A summa cum laude graduate of Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, Dr. Hurt earned both his master’s and doctoral degrees in history as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In between his master’s and doctoral studies, he served on active duty as a military intelligence officer in the U.S. Army in Washington, D.C., and Europe from 1962-64.

Recalling a colleague

Many of Dr. Hurt’s colleagues shared remembrances about him, noting his scholarship, his humility, his humor and his leadership.

Anne Boylan, professor emerita of history: "I especially valued John's sense of collegiality and his generosity in serving on numerous departmental and college committees. He was a fair-minded and supportive department chair; all who knew him will remember his skill with the wry comment and the well-placed bon mot."

James Brophy, Francis H. Squire Professor of History: "His collegiality was fair-minded, tolerant and encouraging. As chair, he advocated for all. His droll humor hit home with so few words. John played a large role in hiring me and, in his own unobtrusive fashion, was a good mentor. I have much to thank him for. Whenever I mentioned these virtues to him, he characteristically dismissed the praise."

Richard Zipser, professor emeritus of German and former chair of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures: “John was such a warm and caring person, always cheerful and blessed with a wonderful sense of humor. He was almost always in a good mood, at least when we were together, and his upbeat attitude and winning smile usually lifted the spirits of those who were in his presence. I met him shortly after arriving at UD in 1986, and before long we became friends. John was a good friend, a loyal friend, and I was fortunate to be a recipient of his friendship. The fact that the two of us had similar views in many areas helped us to bond. I and my colleagues in the foreign languages and literatures department were so pleased that John twice agreed to serve as acting chair when I was on sabbatical leave. Everyone said he did a great job, and these two one-year assignments helped prepare him for chairing the history department, something he was eager to do before retiring and did well. My wife, Ulrike, and I admired John, and we both miss him.”

Steven Sidebotham, professor of history: “I arrived at the history department for the fall 1981 semester. My fondest memories of John related to my underwhelming sartorial appearance. John would often joke that he had never seen me wear a tie, but I would remind him that, in fact, he had when I arrived for my job interview in the summer of 1981, one of the few times I recall wearing one. Often in the hallways of Ewing he would ask when I would wear a tie. One day, knowing that he would very likely be in his office and aware of his penchant for asking about my tie, I wore a T-shirt with Arabic written on the front. When he asked, yet again, about my donning a tie, I replied that when he could read what appeared on the T-shirt, I would then, obligingly, wear a tie. I never wore the tie! I know that we both enjoyed that repartee. I have collaborated on many publications over the years in my major discipline of archaeology where collaboration, often with several other co-authors, is the norm. I would say that the book John and I edited about World War II bombardier Richard Mason (published in hard back in 2014 and then in paperback in 2016) was the perfect example of what ideal collaboration can be. After publication of that book, John and I gave joint power point presentations about our research to various audiences and they were, in my biased opinion, seamless. John would ask about my on-going project – which my wife and I initiated in 2004 – of conducting in-person, on-camera interviews of veterans of World War II, many of the recordings of which I use in a seminar he encouraged me to begin teaching about 12 years ago. I am so glad that he started me along that path, a drastically different kind of subject and method of teaching than I was accustomed to doing. When David Allendinger informed me about John’s sudden demise, I was shocked. I shall miss him dearly.”

David Allmendinger, professor emeritus of history: “The suddenness of John’s departure has shocked us. I can report that barely three weeks before he died, he spent a night at our house in North Carolina, looking fit and lively, handsome in his new beard. He insisted, as always, on carrying in the luggage. When we drove to find lunch, he admired our new car and thought he might buy one this spring. Before dinner, he enjoyed his gin martini, which brought back memories of drinks at the Blue and Gold Club and the Crab Trap, where we often prepared for department meeting. He climbed up our stairs to the study (noting the 16 stairs), where we searched on Ancestry.com for a specific Virginia great-grandfather. He spoke of his plan to write a new lecture on the Holocaust. (I remembered him speaking in class, in department meetings, in the Senate.) All was well. He made just one ironic reference this time to my military record, a favorite topic. His own such record had left its mark on him, in his bearing and voice; he never forgot that he had been a soldier. He seems always to have been a good son, and we know that he loved his family dearly because he was an exemplary husband, father and grandfather. In the same way, for the rest of us, he was an exemplary colleague. Sometimes he worked the anchor and sometimes the rudder, holding against some current, steering clear of a shoal.  (Here he would scoff.)  As a scholar and teacher, he would have no one forget why the world had seen witchcraft, revolution, war and the Holocaust. His classes on these subjects led him in new directions; he also worked the sail. We shall miss his strong, capable hand.”

Arrangements

Dr. Hurt is survived by his wife of 30 years, Joyce Ash Hurt; his daughter, Christiane Hurt and her husband Blake Rahn of Chapel Hill, N.C.; his son, Charles Hurt and his wife Trisha Hurt of Seattle, Wash.; and his brother, Robert H. Hurt and his wife Virginia Armat Hurt of Washington, D.C. Other survivors include his grandchildren, Griffin Rahn, Calder Rahn, Carson Hurt and Annalea Hurt; as well as his sister-in-law, Elaine Robey and her husband John Robey of Virginia Beach, Va.

A memorial service will be planned when it is safe to assemble. Donations in Dr. Hurt’s memory may be made to the University of Pennsylvania Hospice Friends Fund or the Crosslands Residents’ Association, stipulating the “Crosslands Library Fund” at 1660 East Street Rd., Kennett Square, PA 19348, in honor of Dr. Hurt.

To read Dr. Hurt’s obituary visit Grieco Funeral Home and Crematory Inc., where condolences may be left online.