Donald Hurst

I was born at St. Luke’s Hospital, Marquette, Michigan, on June 12, 1931. My parents were Victor and LaFerne Hurst. I grew up on W. College Avenue, 1/2 block up the street from the hospital. I had one older sister, Josephine, who became a very talented writer of prose and poetry, and a highly compassionate person in her lifetime. My father was a professor of physical education and coach of many sports at Northern State Teachers College (now Northern Michigan University), the coach of all sports at John D. Pierce School, and its gym teacher, grade school through high school… He laid the foundation for my lifelong dedication to physical fitness and good sportsmanship in life. My mother was active in Girl Scouts, Faculty wives Club, and with her doll hospital, where she expertly restored broken dolls, and managed her very large doll collection.

In high school I participated in many sports, including football, basketball, track and field, baseball, swimming and diving, alpine skiing, ski jumping, and gymnastics, and did well in all of them.

My interest in skiing began when I was 3 years old, and I could ski right from my house to the West, because we were the last house on the block. I even had a small ski jump in my front yard. I jumped in my first tournament when I was 6 years old at Chipmunk Bluff in South Marquette. As a senior in high school I won Class C at Suicide Hill in Ishpeming. Then it was off to the University of Michigan, and gave up ski jumping for 16 years.

At the University of Michigan I pursued a degree in Physical Education, expecting to be a coach like my father. While there I spent four years as a varsity gymnastic and tumbling cheerleader and continued to be an active alumni cheerleader for over 53 years, cheering almost every year on the field in Michigan stadium at Homecoming.

It was then that I decided to change my field of interest to Dentistry. But, after an additional year of chemistry and physics, I got drafted into the Army, where I taught Medical Aidman Basic Training for 21 months at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas. So my acceptance into dental school had to be deferred for 2 years. By the time I was through with dental school, my first wife, Alice Lowe, and I had 3 children: Daughter, Susan Carol, who also became a dentist, and gave us 4 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren; son, Jeffrey Don, who also became a dentist; and David Merrill, who became a clinical psychologist. I was always so proud of them and their individual accomplishments, and loved them dearly.

My grandchildren are Jeffrey, Matthew, Andrew and Sarah Porter. Andrew and Allison gave me my first and second great-grandsons, Nolan and Luke and great-granddaughter, Sophie.

My dental practice in Marquette lasted 32 1/2 years, retiring in 1993, and I enjoyed it all, doing the best dentistry I could do, enjoying the company of my patients, and working with many dedicated staff members.

After a few years in Marquette I was married to Georgiana Dostaler, and our family consisted of a long list of dogs, which was Georgie’s passion, and became mine, too. I grew to love them almost as much as I loved Georgie for her many talents, as well as her strength and determination facing the multitude of challenges she faced in her life.

I also rekindled my interest in ski jumping at that time. The whole sport had changed in style, equipment, and ski hill design, but I learned all over again, and became very successful in Veteran’s Class (32 years and older). In a span of 7 years I won the U.S. National Veteran’s Championship 3 times, was 2nd three times, and 3rd once. I also tied the national Veteran’s distance record at 261 feet on Pine Mountain in Iron Mountain. In 1973 I competed in 12 tournaments, won 9 of them, was 2nd in 3, having a fall in each of those 3. After winning my 3rd National Championship, at Suicide Hill, in 1973, I then retired from jumping.

Then I pursued cross-country ski racing with new enthusiasm. But, after not jumping for another 10 years, I decided to enter the North American Ski Jumping Championships, and won the over age 50 class. That ended my ski jumping career. During that time period I also competed in 14 running marathons. Later on I got involved in road bike and mountain bike racing, and triathlons.

My competitive cross-country career lasted for over 47 years, including dozens of marathons over 50 kilometers long. The highlight of those races was the completion of 15 marathons in the Worldloppet Series in Europe, Scandinavia, Canada, and the US and earning the Award Worldloppet Gold Master. Other highlights in cross-country were skiing, with my wife, Georgie, the 90 kilometer Vasaloppet in Sweden in 1998 and skiing across Finland from Russia to Sweden, in 1999, 444 kilometers in 7 days, near the Arctic Circle.

I served many years involved with the U.S. Ski Association, Central Division, as Nordic Vice-president, Chairman of the Ski Hall of Fame Committee, Chairman of the Ski Hall of Fame Committee, Chairman of the Ski Jumping Committee, and Skier Classification Committee. For over 50 years I served as a member of the Selection Committee of the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame, selecting nominees for induction. I served as the Assistant to the Chief of Officials for Ski Jumping at the pre-Olympics in 1979 and the 1980 Olympics at Lake Placid, New York.

Locally, in 1969, while I was practicing dentistry full time and ski jumping weekly, I resurrected the Nordic Ski program at Northern Michigan University, and followed them with much pride over the next 50+ years. I also helped create the Bill Koch Youth Ski League, in 1977, and directed it for 19 years with the Marquette Noon Kiwanis Club. I also helped create the Red Earth Loppet XC Ski Marathon, and served as Race Director and Chief of Sponsorships for 11 years. During this time period I was an active member of the Marquette Noon Kiwanis, with perfect attendance for over 47 years.

In 1968 I became involved with the effort to name Northern Michigan University at Olympic Training Site. It became a reality in 1985, when I was part of the delegation to Colorado Springs, led by Dr. Roy Heath (the father of the idea), and Burton Boyum, the first president of the Great Lakes Training Site Association. The educational aspect of our presentation was later accepted, and NMU later became the first U.S. Olympic Education Center.

I received many memorable awards in my lifetime, but among the most meaningful were being elected to the Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame in 1988 (following my father’s induction in 1977); being named the Michigan Dentist Citizen of the Year in 1993, and the Marquette Citizen of the Year, also in 1993. In 2020 I was selected for induction into the American Ski Jumping Hall of Fame, and was inducted in 2021, which was a huge honor.

As I depart this earthly life, I am forever grateful for the wonderful lessons I learned from my parents and my teachers at John D. Pierce School, the love I received from my wives, children and grandchildren, and the friendship and admiration of my many athlete friends. Not to be overlooked is the privilege of being raised in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where all of God’s creations in nature are there for our total enjoyment.

Peace be with you, and enjoy each and every day to the fullest.

Visitation will be held Saturday, April 26, 2025 from 10:30 am to 12 Noon at Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral and Cremation Services. A Memorial Service will be held at 12 Noon with Frida Waara officiating. A luncheon will follow the service in the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to UPAWS.

Memories of Donald may be shared at fassbenderswansonhansen.com.