Daniel J. Hurite

Daniel J. Hurite, 78 Struthers- Daniel Joseph Hurite, former Mayor, died Thursday evening in St. Elizabeth Medical Center where he was taken after suffering an apparent heart attack while bowling in Struthers. Mr. Hurite had been the Mayor of Struthers from 1979 to 1983. He began serving the city as the fourth ward councilman from 1964 to 1967. He was a councilman at large from 1970 to 1974 and served as President of Council from 1975 until 1978. He was born January 15, 1926 in the former East Youngstown, a son of Stephen and Elizabeth Ontko Hurajt coming to Struthers as a child. A 1944 graduate of Struthers High School, Mr. Hurite then entered the Army during World War II where he served as an infantry rifleman in the Battle of the Bulge and in the Ardennes and Rhineland. Upon his discharge he entered the Youngstown State University graduating in 1953 with a Bachelor of Science degree. He was a member of Phi Gamma Fraternity. . He was a driver-salesman for the Schwebel Bakery for thirty-two years, retiring in 1986. He then drove bus for the Poland schools for ten years and drove for Transit Service from 1996 to 1998. Mr. Hurite was a member of St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church in Struthers where he had been a lecturer and had distributed communion. He was a Fourth Degree Knight of the Knights of Columbus # 4224 where he was a past Grand Knight. He was a member of VFW # 3538, American Legion Post 158, Struthers Lions where he was a past president, The YSU Alumni Association, the Jednota, and the ROMEOS. He was a former member of the Struthers Athletic Club, the Struthers Gridiron, the Band Boosters and AARP. He was an avid golfer and bowler, belonging to numerous leagues. His wife, the former Dorothy Phillips whom he married August 12, 1950 died December 6, 2001. Even though, in later years, she needed a wheelchair, they had traveled to all of the fifty states. Mr. Hurite leaves two daughters, Diane (Chip) Barber and Debbie Cox, both of Poland; four grandchildren, Melissa (Brian) Dougherty of Rootstown, Chuck Barber of Ravenna, and Amy and Amanda Cox both of Poland and two great granddaughters, Hannah Dougherty and Olivia Barber. A brother Steve Hurajt is deceased. Funeral services will be Tuesday at 9:30 AM at the Davidson-Becker Funeral Home and at 10:00 AM in St. Nicholas Church. Friends may visit at the funeral home on Monday from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM. The U.S. Army and VFW 3538 will provide military honors at Poland Riverside Cemetery following the funeral Mass.

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