Fr. Dan Hurley remembered as a man of pure joy

Fr. Dan Hurley, O.F.M., through his Franciscan charm and affability, showed others a simple path to God.

Fr. Dan was one of the founding friars at Mt. Irenaeus, St. Bonaventure's Franciscan retreat, and was instrumental in forming the friar community there over the past two decades.

Through his time at the Mountain, he engaged in every stage of Mountain life and modeled for others the Franciscan manner for being a spiritual guide and mentor.

In 2007, Fr. Dan was presented an honorary Doctor of Pedagogy degree from St. Bonaventure in celebration of his 45th year of service to the University. Robert M. Donius, vice president for University Ministries at St. Bonaventure, said of his friend at that time:

“The noted theologian and scientist Pierre Teilhard de Chardin once wrote that joy is the surest sign of the presence of God. Fr. Dan Hurley is a man of pure joy: his gentle smile, his delightful laughter, his blueberry piemaking, his unconditional love of each person he meets. He has been and is a presence of God for us." 

Fr. Dan retired from a long teaching career in June 1990 and moved to the campus ministry team. Many of his teaching years were spent in the classroom at St. Bonaventure, as an instructor of philosophy, history and English. He also interacted with hundreds of St. Bonaventure undergraduates through numerous non-teaching positions, including residence director of Falconio-Robinson halls, dean of men, coordinator of freshman students, and academic counselor in the University Counseling Center.

Fr. Dan maintained connections with thousands of St. Bonaventure alumni, serving as National Alumni Board chaplain beginning in 1979, always providing a smiling, welcoming face at alumni events.

A native of Albany, Fr. Dan earned a bachelor’s degree in the classics from St. Bonaventure (then St. Bonaventure College) in 1940. Two months later he entered the Franciscan Order. Fr. Dan professed his final vows in September 1944 and was ordained to the priesthood in June 1945.

His early assignments included teaching courses in history and philosophy at St. Anthony’s Monastery in Butler, N.J., and Siena College in Loudonville, N.Y. From 1955 to 1961, he was assigned to St. Bonaventure, where he taught and served as a prefect in a residence hall.

Following administrative work at Holy Name College and a pastoral assignment at St. Stephen’s Friary in Croghan, N.Y., Fr. Dan was welcomed back to St. Bonaventure in the summer of 1969.

Remembering Fr. Dan: Go to Mt. Irenaeus tribute page