Dr. E. Gerald Hurst, Jr., 76, of Huntingdon Valley, PA, passed away suddenly on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015, in Quito, Ecuador.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, Jan. 31, at Bryn Athyn Cathedral in Bryn Athyn, PA. A reception followed at the Glencairn Museum in Bryn Athyn, PA.
Dr. Hurst was born on Oct. 19, 1938, the son of the late Ernest and Mary (Thomas) Hurst of Hillsboro. He married Siri (Odhner) Yardumian on Nov. 18, 1989 and she survives.
A graduate of Hillsboro High School class of 1956, Dr. Hurst held multiple degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was an emeritus professor of The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and the founder and first chairman of the Department of Decision Sciences.
Dr. Hurst also served as director of the Executive MBA Program and was the first Assistant Dean for International Affairs. After his retirement from Wharton, he worked at GHR Systems, Inc., where he served as co-founder, president, chief financial officer, vice chairman and director. He also served on the boards of a number of startup technology companies.
Dr. Hurst was an avid golfer and donated much of his time and technical expertise to the Golf Association of Philadelphia. He was an accomplished chef and wine collector who enjoyed cooking for his family and friends.
A lifelong lover of music and the theater, Dr. Hurst performed regularly with the Bucks County Choral Society and the Bryn Athyn Community Theater.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by sons John W. Hurst and David T. Hurst; stepson, Aram Yardumian; grandsons, Trey Wilder Hurst and Alexander Hurst; brother John T. Hurst of Berkley, CA; and sisters Susan Kershaw of Litchfield and Sara Hurst-Dodd of Nashville, TN.
Besides his parents, Dr. Hurst was preceded in death by a son, E. Gerald Hurst III.
Donations in Dr. Hurst's memory may be made to the Bryn Athyn College Business Program, P.O. Box 708, Bryn Athyn, PA 19001, 267-502-4895, or online at www.brynathyn.edu/give.
