Leigh Alan Hurst

Leigh Alan Hurst, 70, of Novato CA, passed away suddenly on January 22, 2021 of cardiac failure. He resided in Marin County for nearly 40 years. He was born in Cheverly Maryland on December 07, 1950 to Robert William Hurst and Doris Lee (Smith) Hurst. He graduated from the University of Maryland in 1972 and completed his Post Graduate studies in zoology at the University of Wisconsin. He relocated to Marin County in 1982. He worked for the Department of Veteran Affairs as a Supervisor for Information Technology Development and Support. He retired in 2018.

He and his life partner Thomas Seigel loved to travel and visited dozens of countries through Europe and some in Asia. There they relished local culture and history, classic art and architecture, delightful cuisine and the finest fruit of the vine and local brew. His love of food was expressed in his ability to prepare impressive culinary delights which he did on a regular basis. He was also a wine aficionado and had a delicate palate for subtilties of flavor. His wine cellar was ‘envious”.

His culinary palate was paralleled by his love for auditory discernment. He loved the symphony and opera. He was a patron of the San Francisco Symphony. And, one great joy of his late years was to participate on the Board of Directors of The San Francisco Pocket Opera.

He was a loving, kind, honest and generous man with a remarkable intellect. Indeed, he was known to have an encyclopedic knowledge base stored in his brain and could be depended on for an answer to a wide variety of questions. He was an ardent student of history and genealogy. He was preceded in death by his parents and by his life partner Thomas Seigel. He is survived by his brother David (Theresa Kaiser) Hurst of Salisbury NC, his sister Carol Hurst of Colorado Springs CO and nine nieces and nephews. He considered them his “children” and he treasured each one of them. He also held his extended family (Aunt, Uncle and cousins) close to his heart.

Finally, he will be sadly missed by his very loving neighborhood family who have gathered every evening, in a socially distanced manner, to check in with each other during the covid-19 pandemic.

A celebration of his life will be arranged at a time when it is safer to travel. Memorial donations may be made to the San Francisco Pocket Opera. 469 Bryant Street. San Francisco CA 94107 pocketopera.org 415 972-8930