Leonard James Hurst

A renaissance man who enjoyed everything from conducting his choir to composting in his garden, Leonard J. Hurst served as the music teacher and choral director at Morgan Park High School in Chicago from 1957 until 1985. Mr. Hurst, 81, died of complications from Alzheimer's disease on Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012, at Greencroft Healthcare, Goshen, surrounded by his daughters, siblings, and other relatives. Born April 3, 1931, in Wadsworth, Ohio, to Moses W. and Mary S. (Ressler) Hurst, Mr. Hurst moved to Goshen to attend Goshen College in 1948. After graduation, he attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, obtaining his master's degree in music in 1952. From 1953-55, Mr. Hurst worked as a music therapist at Indiana University Medical Center in Indianapolis. There he met his wife, Linda (Curran) Hurst, and they were married Nov. 5, 1955, in Boardman, Ohio. Mr. Hurst and his wife then moved to Chicago, where he studied voice for a year and considered a professional singing career. With Linda and his brother Carl, he also directed the Easter Seals camp for children with disabilities, and he taught music at Hyde Park High School before joining the staff at Morgan Park. As a teacher and choral director at Morgan Park, Mr. Hurst was an inspiration to many of his students who would continue to write and call him throughout his life to express their gratitude. He also collaborated with drama teacher and friend Charles "Chuck" Beirne on many popular musical productions, including Bye-Bye Birdie, Brigadoon, Carousel, and Oklahoma. While teaching, Mr. Hurst also opened and managed Friendly Oaks Garden Center in Oak Forest, Illinois, with another fellow teacher and friend, Bill Phillips. Mr. Hurst raised his family and continued to live in Oak Forest until 2004, when he moved to Greencroft Middlebury. There he continued to pursue his interest in gardening and learned to play the cello, practicing and performing with the New Horizons Orchestra. Mr. Hurst's numerous hobbies included golf, tennis, fishing, bowling, woodworking, wood-carving, photography, playing the piano, reading, singing, gardening, canning, and wine-making. Mr. Hurst is survived by three daughters, Laura (Kevin) Hurst Spell, Susan Kilmer Teplow, and Jill (Dan) Louise Christensen; brothers, Carl (Mary) Hurst, Ronald D. Hurst, and Gerald "Tony" (Glenda) Hurst; sister, Violet Miller; five grandchildren, Tyler, Corinne, Sara, Nikki, and Daniel; sister-in-law, Thelma Hurst; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and brother, Lawrence Hurst. The family would like to express their deep appreciation and gratitude to the staff of Greencroft Healthcare for their loving care and concern for Mr. Hurst during his stay there. Visitation will be from 3 until the 5:00 p.m. memorial service on Saturday, December 22, 2012, in The Gathering Place at Evergreen Place, Greencroft in Goshen. Chaplain Vanette Kashmer will officiate. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Greencroft Foundation, Goshen College Music Department, or The Nature Conservancy.