Kirk Hurley

Kirk LaMar Hurley
08 Feb 1958 - 07 Dec 2019

Clubs & Associations

Medallion Dancer

2001 | 10 Year Medallion at Make Magic
2014 | 20 Year Medallion at Squeeze The Hive

Obituary

Kirk LaMar Hurley

Marlboro, Mass. — Kirk LaMar Hurley passed away at University of Massachusetts Hospital in Worcester, Mass. on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019.

Born in Dorchester County on Feb.8, 1952, he was the son of the late Charles and Mildred Hurley of East New Market. He was the brother of Hyla Hurley-Sandoz and Chuck Hurley.

Kirk graduated from North Dorchester High School; from there he attended and graduated from Frostburg College. The next step in his education was to fulfill a dream from childhood to attend law school. He received his law degree from the University of Baltimore Law School. At a young age, Kirk developed a deep and abiding interest in politics which led him in several directions. As a Republican he represented the State of Maryland as an alternate delegate to the Republican National Convention. During this stage in his life, he spent a number of years researching land titles. Also during this period, he helped care for his grandmother, Dorothy Hallsa and also the wellbeing of two cousins. After this stint in his life, he moved to Massachusetts where he lived for the past eleven plus years. There he became very involved with Democrat Party politics and changed his philosophy. He had an avid interest in historical happenings and people. Family research, in particular, was of primary interest. A lover of classical music and square dancing when he was not talking politics was he. He immersed himself in square dancing which originated at an earlier time. While in Massachusetts, he made many friends in square dancing circles, in local politics and also in a special friend who he worked for, Michael Genovese.

His body was cremated and returned to Maryland to be buried. A memorial graveside service will be held on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. at East New Market Cemetery. Pastor David Rice will officiate.

Arrangements are in the care of Zeller Funeral Home in East New Market.^[1]

Remembrances

Dear Dancers,
Once again we lower our heads in honour of another of our fallen angels. Many of you will remember Kirk Hurley from the golden era of gay square dancing in the 1990s. Kirk discovered Chesapeake Squares and made it his adopted family. For many years he served on its board and was a moving force behind the Baltimore club hosting Crack the Crab, the IAGSDC 2000 Convention.
Kirk was as passionate about square dancing as he was about history, law and politics. He served as parliamentarian for Chesapeake Squares board meetings (sometimes to the annoyance of its members) and relished the Democratic process. Kirk threw himself full throttle into everything he involved himself with. Pass the Ocean, Hon! in Rehoboth Beach was never so grand as when he served as committee chair in the 1990s. With four callers and dancing in both the convention center and the fire house, the decorations, food and revelry were truly over the top as PTOH reached its peak attendance of over 300 registrants.
In more recent years Kirk made his home in Marlborough, Massachusetts where he remained passionately involved in politics serving as chair of the Marlborough Democratic City Committee. Though he had drifted away from dancing over the years, he remained in contact with many of his old square dance friends. Ett McAtee describes Kirk on his FaceBook page as "all about the genteel way of things". I cannot think of a more apt framing of this kind soul who cared so deeply about his fellow inhabitants of our planet. I laugh openly now as I hear him saying deadpan the words "Beam me up, Scotty", followed by a deep belly laugh after we danced together. Well, Captain Kirk, now you have reached the stars. Have no fear, the rest of the Star Fleet is just behind you. Hold fast, old friend.
Deepest condolences to Kirk's family and friends,
— Scott Macleod, President, Chesapeake Squares

Kirk is fondly remembered for what he called "The Midnight Cotillion" which was the moonshine tip at Crack the Crab 2000 IAGSDC convention in a time when we had to be very "careful" about the tip with the venue personnel, in this case, the Baltimore Convention Center. We all wore dainty white gloves for the tip! RIP, Captain Kirk!
— Ett McAtee

At the San Diego Convention, during the Grand March we passed a pool with a fountain of a dolphin and Kirk, camera ever at the ready, asked if anyone would climb on the dolphin for a photo. I have long-enough legs so I got on the dolphin for Kirk to take the photo. The next year, in Phoenix, he came to me early in the convention to say he'd found a wonderful piece of statuary to take another photo of me. We did that and so it became a "thing". I don't remember all of the poses I did for him, but I do remember spending a couple of hours in hot muggy Atlanta as he and Rick Hawes took photos of me on various pieces of art. The last one he took was of both Barry and I on an animal (horse?, mule?, camel?) in Salt Lake City. I'll always treasure those times, even though I don't have any of the photos.
— Pam Clasper

Memorial Panel

2UR | Chesapeake Squares

Photos

2019 - Kirk would want this photo included
Kirk getting his 20 Year Medallion at Squeeze The Hive in 2014
The requisite hug for Rick Hawes as Kirk got his 20 year medallion
Kirk in front of the Mormon Tabernacle, 2014
Kirk on the fun badge tour at Squeeze The Hive in 2014
Kirk and Art Cruse on a Convention fun badge tour
Kirk and Pam Clasper just after she'd received her 10-year medallion at DC Diamond Circulatein 2009
Dolphin fountain in San Diego
Kirk's badge
Obituary (The Star Democrat)