David Hurst

Rev. Dom David Hurst, O.S.B. Fr. David Hurst of Portsmouth Abbey died early on the morning of June 12, 2003, after a fall in his room in the monastery, at the age of 86. He had suffered from heart disease for many years, but remained intellectually acute?and passionately devoted to the Boston Red Sox?until the end. Henry David Hurst was born in Bardstown, Kentucky, on July 8, 1916, the son of Julian and Mary Hurst. He attended Catholic University in Washington, D.C., from which he obtained his Master of Arts degree in 1943. Dom David took vows as a Benedictine monk of Portsmouth Priory on June 30, 1942, and was ordained to the priesthood on June 15, 1946. Fr. David taught Classics at Portsmouth Priory later, Abbey School, where he also served as Housemaster of the New Dormitory, in which role he was almost as popular among the boys as he was as confessor. He was Novice Master in the monastery from 1960 to 1967, then taught at Catholic Seminary Foundation in Indianapolis, Indiana, from 1969 to 1975. Fr. David returned to teach Latin again at Portsmouth Abbey School, but retired after his first heart attack in 1977. Fr. David was a renowned classical scholar. He studied the works of St. Bede in monasteries in Europe on a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1958. His publications include critical editions of St. Bede?s works and translations of the works of St. Bede 1985 and St. Gregory the Great 1990. Fr. David is survived by many nephews and nieces in Kentucky and by his monastic brethren at Portsmouth Abbey. A funeral Mass will be said at 11 A.M. on Monday, June 16, at the Abbey Church. Burial will be in the monastery cemetery.