Hurley, John

John Hurley, aged 85, passed away peacefully on September, 8, 2024. John's kind heart and calm presence will be missed by all who knew him. John was born December 18, 1938 to Hubert and Helen (Needham) Hurley. He was raised in southern Illinois along with his older brother David. John was valedictorian of the Carbondale Community High School, class of 1956, and went on to graduate from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana.

John's career reflected his passion for finding solutions to global problems. He was in the inaugural group of Peace Corps volunteers and worked for the Peace Corps for almost a decade. He was initially stationed in Malaysia (then called Malaya) and later served as the first Peace Corps Director in Fiji. In 1964, John married fellow Peace Corps worker Rita Franzone. Together they had three children, Mark, Laura, and David and were married for 26 years. John wrapped up his time with the Peace Corps working at their headquarters in Washington, D.C. He then spent two decades with the National Academy of Sciences, helping to foster international scientific cooperation with a focus on developing countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America while still finding time to coach his children's soccer teams and taking his family on camping and other excursions.

John moved to Chicago in 1992 and turned his talents toward global philanthropy working at the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation serving as Vice President for International Programs. That same year, John met Linda Wetzel, who shared John's love of travel, good food, and binge-worthy television. They were married in 1996 and enjoyed the next decade working in Chicago, entertaining on their rooftop deck, and going to the symphony.

John and Linda retired to Mineral Point, Wisconsin in 2007 and settled into small town life reminiscent of John's early years in southern Illinois. John would make Linda elaborate breakfasts, and the two of them would work on the daily crossword puzzle. John was an active and generous board member of Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts and the Community Connections Free Clinic.

In 2012, John "un-retired," and returned to active international work in Arlington, Virginia. He took a job as Senior Vice President of CRDF Global, an organization formed after the collapse of the Soviet Union to protect vulnerable nations against nuclear proliferation. In 2017, John retired for a second time and for the next few years, John and Linda happily split their time between Carpinteria, California and Mineral Point, Wisconsin.

John is survived by his wife Linda; his children Mark (Koki), Laura (Troy Smith), and David (Nancy); his grandchildren Jason, Christopher, Amanda, Sofia, and Wiley; his brother David (Carolyn); stepdaughters Lisa (Don Hay) and Stefanie (Yoram Astrakhan); step-grandchildren Zoë, Zack, Lily, and Daniel. He was loved and respected by all of us.

Per John's wishes, the family will celebrate John's life at a private family gathering in Washington, D.C. Those wishing to make donations in John's memory may consider the Community Connections Free Clinic and Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts.