Ronald W. Hurd

HUBBARDSTON - Ronald W. Hurd, 76, of Hubbardston, died Tuesday, September 18, 2007, unexpectedly, after a short illness.

He leaves his wife of 48 years, Eva B. (Rabidou) Hurd; two sons, R. Scott Hurd and his wife Paula of Hardwick, and Jeffrey K. Hurd and his wife Wendy of Rutland; a daughter, Julie Anne Boudreau of Westminster; two sisters, Marjorie L. Rabidou of Leicester and Dorothy Senecal of Northboro; four grandchildren, Lauryn, Adam, Molly and Abby; numerous nephews and nieces; and good friend Henry Hauptmann of Hardwick. His son, Keith W. Hurd, predeceased him. He was born in Worcester, the son of Fred and Edythe L. (Stanton) Hurd and lived 33 years in Hubbardston.

Mr. Hurd graduated from Classical High School in Worcester and earned his Bachelors Degree and Masters Degree from Worcester State College. He also attended Clark University for postgraduate studies. He was an Associate Professor at Worcester State College, retiring in 2004. He previously taught at Chandler Junior High School in Worcester and Memorial School in Leicester. He was a Staff Sergeant in the US Air Force during the Korean Conflict.

He was a member of the First Congregational Church in Rutland. He loved building his children’s homes, riding his motorcycle, and spending time with his family at “The Lake”. In his forty’s, where a typical father considers shuttling his children around to soccer games on a Saturday a stressful day, he built a home to raise his family. His only true help was a pregnant wife, (who gave birth in the middle of the project). In today’s vernacular, building your own home might mean managing the contractors that are actually doing all the “grunt” work. To my father, building a home meant planning every aspect of the construction, cutting every board and driving every nail.

He grew up on Grafton Hill in Worcester and was always keenly aware of his father never being able to own a home. In his sixty’s, he decided to establish what I believe to be his legacy, to build homes for all of his children. At a time when most men are moving to Florida, getting a Viagra Prescription and working on their golf game, my father built three homes for his children. He built these homes the only way he knew how, from the ground up with his own hands.

This is how we know our father, constantly in motion, opinionated, the consummate teacher and always fully engaged in our lives. He always thought that teaching was a calling and he believed (and would tell anyone that would listen) that he had the best job in the entire world. He held this belief even though he often had to work two or three other side jobs to support his family. By his fifty’s, he could re-tube an industrial boiler, paint a house or change an alternator, all over a long weekend.

He flew a B-26 with Major Stokes, rode Harley’s with Nate Sheldon and taught generations of Central Massachusetts students. Even in his later years, he could recall the names of his students in his first classroom quicker than I could recite what I had for breakfast. He loved his wife, children, grandchildren, and his homes with fierce pride. He saw beauty everywhere in our humble corner of New England. Our world is now a poorer place with his passing. He will be missed more than words can describe.

The funeral service for Ronald will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, September 22nd, in the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street (Rte. 122A), Holden. Burial will follow in Worcester County Memorial Park, 217 Richards Avenue (Rte. 56), Paxton. Calling hours are from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, September 21st, in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen Street, Framingham, MA 01701.

Website & Guest book: www.milesfuneralhome.com