David LeRoy Hurty

26 July 1930 — 8 May 2021

David Hurty was born in Hutchinson, Kansas, on July 26, 1930, the fifth child of Richard and Laura Hurty. He lost his mother at the end of his elementary school years, and eventually moved to live with his older brother, Robert, and graduated from high school in Lindsborg, Kansas. He attended Bethany College, also in Lindsborg.

In the summer after his freshman year, Dave traveled with four other Bethany students representing The Home and Foreign Ministry Society of the college. They toured the Texas Conference of the Augustana Lutheran Church, and Dave preached and sang in the programs they gave in the churches they visited. A month after returning from this trip, while working on his sister Clara and brother-in-law Albert's farm, he became sick with poliomyelitis. He spent two months in the hospital before returning to Bethany. He missed one term of classes, but he was able to catch up and graduate with his class in 1952, with a major in History.

During his college years Dave sensed God calling him into ministry, and after graduating from Bethany, he attended Augustana Lutheran Theological Seminary in Rock Island, Illinois. There were no special accommodations, no elevators or ramps at Augustana, and despite the lingering effects of polio, Dave climbed the same stairs, and walked the hills, just like everyone else. Dave was ordained into the Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Synod on June 17, 1956, and served as a pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Tempe, Arizona, Grace Lutheran Church in Santa Barbara, California, and First Lutheran Church in Oakland, California. After 35 years in parish ministry, he moved to New York City where he accepted a call as house chaplain and director of operations at Seafarers and International House, a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, serving until his retirement in 1996.

During his years at Bethany, Dave met Kathleen Segerhammar. They courted and were married on June 29, 1956 and moved to Tempe. During their 5 years in Arizona, the first three of their four children were born. Mark in 1957, Jon in 1959, and Krista in 1961. They moved to Santa Barbara in 1963 where Karla was born in 1967. After living in Oakland for 17 years, Dave and Kathleen moved to New York City where, in addition to his work at Seafarer's, Dave worked as a supply preacher in many congregations and served on the Advisory Council for People with Disabilities at Lincoln Center, where he volunteered on developing the large print and braille program notes for the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and other Lincoln Center programs. In 2002, Dave and Kathleen moved back to Oakland.

Blessed with a beautiful singing voice, Dave sang his entire life. He was a member of many ensembles and was a soloist with the Santa Barbara Choral society. He often sang solos in church, and his singing of the liturgy was inspiring. His love of music and the arts were inspiring to his children, all of whom have been active in the arts.

A hallmark of Dave's persona was his unwillingness to be defined by his disability. Though polio initially left him paralyzed in both legs, he worked hard and regained strength and the use of one leg. He walked most of his life with the assistance of a long leg brace and cane. In his twilight years the long term effects of polio and post polio syndrome robbed him of his mobility, confining him to a wheelchair, but even then he refused to be bound by limitations and continued to travel well into his late 80s. Even when he could no longer walk, neighbors reported seeing Dave riding a scooter or his electric wheelchair from home to Resurrection Lutheran Church a few blocks away.

In addition to his work in ministry, Dave served on many boards and held leadership positions in the community.

David died peacefully at home in Oakland in the early hours of Saturday, May 8. Kathleen was sleeping at his side. He had spoken with each of his children in the days preceding his death, and even in those last phone calls he told stories of his adventures with Kathleen and their long life together. He lived a good life, filled with love, grace, and faith.

On hearing of his death, a friend, Hans Ucko wrote of Dave:

You meet people and then you meet people. The latter 'people' is spelled Mensch. You were a real Mensch. David Hurty, you have left us and there is a big void. I have seldom come across anyone who could be three-in-one and one in three. David, you were so positively three-in-one.

You were the Swede that we so seldom come across nowadays. The one who was more Swedish than Swedes. Who brought forth "kaffetåren", as if you had done nothing else but sat down with Swedes sipping coffee. “Välkomna till bordet” and everyone would understand that here was your Swedish invitation to some great fellowship around the table.

You were the big American, whom one wanted to stay close to, because you had the strength to support everyone.

And you were the true Lutheran, where faith could never be compartmentalized but made you to the person you were, the Mensch. No one would question your being truly authentic.

When you sat down at the table, one really felt at home and safe.

I miss you; you were the image and personification of what things should be like.

You make me think that paradise/heaven/ eternal life etc. is where you are and where everyone will say. “This is how it should be. And Amen to that. Blessing God for you, David Hurty."

My love and thoughts and good wishes go to Kathleen and if our time allowed it, I want to come and see you and say, “You know it yourself, but you were married to a great man. A Mensch.

Much love to your children and grandchildren. Oh, how we miss you, David Hurty.

Dave is survived by his wife, Kathleen, his children, 7 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren.