May 16, 2007

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) — Edward John Hurley, one of the first faculty members and a former associate dean of the UC Davis School of Medicine, died Sunday, May 13. He was 76.

"Ed's vision and foresight played a critical role in the growth of UC Davis Medical Center and the School of Medicine,” said Joseph Silva Jr., dean emeritus of the medical school. “In 1983, he recognized the emerging interest of the greater community in our potential to grow into a national, biomedical enterprise. Besides shepherding our early philanthropic efforts, Ed guided us on how to build friends in our region and how to use their advice. We will miss his good nature, honesty, humor and stewardship."

Dr. Hurley was born April 23, 1931 in San Francisco. He graduated from St. Ignatius High School and the University of San Francisco, and received his medical degree from the Stanford University School of Medicine in 1957.

Dr. Hurley was board-certified in general, and thoracic and cardiovascular surgery in 1964-65. He was selected as an established investigator of the American Heart Association and post-doctoral fellow of the National Institutes of Health. During his postgraduate training, Dr. Hurley was selected as a trainee under Dr. Norman Shumway at the then-new Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto, where he took part in early research into cardiac transplantation.

After completion of his training, Dr. Hurley was appointed to the faculty at Stanford University and held positions at both Stanford Hospital and the Palo Alto Veteran's Hospital, where he was vice chairman of the Department of Surgery.

In 1967, Dr. Hurley joined the faculty of the fledgling UC Davis School of Medicine, where he was the 11th faculty member hired and founded the school's Section of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. In 1983, Dr. Hurley was appointed as an associate dean of the school. He founded the UC Davis School of Medicine Alumni Association and established UC Davis Health System's Leadership Council. He also established the Department of Marketing and reorganized the news and communication activities of both the School of Medicine and UC Davis Medical Center.

Dr. Hurley retired from UC Davis in 1993.

Joe Tupin, UC Davis professor emeritus of psychiatry and former medical director of UC Davis Medical Center, said, “As one of its early faculty members, Ed played a significant role in the original structure of courses for the School of Medicine. He also had leadership positions with the entire UC system, where he served on its Medical Education Committee.

“Ed's gentle humor and insight helped move our academic programs forward. His knowledge of Sacramento and its strengths were a key in persuading Shriner's Hospital for Children Northern California to relocate to Sacramento. Our school and hospital would not be as they are today without Ed Hurley.”

He served on numerous community boards, including the March of Dimes, Sacramento Public Library Foundation, Hospice Board, the Center for Contemporary Art and the Visual Arts Committee of the Sacramento Arts Commission. He also was an active member of the board of the Sacramento Area Trade and Commerce Organization, which selected him as president in 1996. As a member of the Matsuyama, Sacramento Sister City Board, he arranged for an exchange of faculty with Ehime University School of Medicine in Matsuyama, Japan. He received an honorary degree from Ehime University. In 1997, he was appointed by the New Zealand Government as Honorary Consul for New Zealand in Northern California.

Dr. Hurley enjoyed spending summers with his family and friends at a cabin in Soda Springs, Calif., an 80-year-old summer retreat. An avid fly fisherman and fly tier, he fished the western United States, Canada and Alaska. His favorite fishing location was New Zealand, where he was accompanied by his equally accomplished fisherwoman, his wife, Starr.

In addition to his wife, Starr, Dr. Hurley is survived by his son, Brandon, and daughter-in-law, DeAnn.

A gathering to celebrate Dr. Hurley's life will be held on Saturday, June 2, from 2 to 5 p.m. in his home.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances should be directed to the University of California, Davis, School of Medicine Edward J. Hurley, M.D. Scholarship Fund, 2315 Stockton Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95817.