January 21, 2022

Dr. John J. Hurt, 83, enfolded in the love of his family, died at his home in Kennett Square, on Saturday, Jan. 15. He had been in good health until Jan. 12 when he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia.

He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Joyce Ash Hurt; his daughter, Christiane Hurt and her husband Blake Rahn of Chapel Hill, N.C.; his son, Charles Hurt and his wife Trisha Hurt of Seattle, Wa.; and his brother, Robert H. Hurt and his wife Virginia Armat Hurt of Washington, DC. Other survivors include his grandchildren, Griffin Rahn, Calder Rahn, Carson Hurt, and Annalea Hurt; as well as his sister-in-law, Elaine Robey and her husband John Robey of Virginia Beach, Va. His first wife, Anne Phelps Griffin of Troutville, Va. died in 1986.

John joined the faculty of the Department of History at the University of Delaware in 1969 and taught there until his retirement in 2015 when he became Professor Emeritus. He served as chair of the History Department from 2008 until 2013, served the University in several additional administrative appointments, and always enjoyed teaching students.

John’s skill as a classroom teacher and his insatiable appetite for reading made him a popular lecturer during his and his wife’s years living in the West Chester area and later at the Kendal-Crosslands Community in Kennett Square.  His book reviews blended teaching with a generous helping of his trademark dry humor and quick wit.

His academic focus was European history with a specialty in 17th and 18th century France. He also taught courses on the French Revolution and Napoleon. However, later in his career, he focused on military history and WWII. He taught a survey course on military history and an upper-level course on WWII. He led frequent student tours to Europe with regular visits to Normandy and other World War II and WWI battlefield sites.

With coauthor Steven E. Sidebotham, he published in 2014 a widely reviewed book, Odyssey of a Bombardier: The POW Log of Richard M. Mason. The book recounts Mason’s arduous experiences and includes his talented drawings from his time as a prisoner of the Germans after his B-17 “Flying Fortress” bomber was shot down over France in 1944.

John also published Louis XIV and the Parlements, the first scholarly study of the political and economic relationship of Louis XIV to French judicial bodies: the Parlement of Paris and provincial tribunals.  John conducted his research in France over a period of years by locating and analyzing original 17th and 18th Century texts. His work upended some theories of how King Louis XIV’s actions shaped the history of early France and the monarchies of Europe.

A native of Atlanta, John was a summa cum laude graduate of Mercer University in Macon, Ga., and earned both his master’s and doctoral degrees in history as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He served on active duty as a military intelligence officer in the U.S. Army in Washington, and in Europe, from 1962-1964 in between his degrees studies at Chapel Hill.

John and Joyce were long-time parishioners of Westminster Presbyterian Church in West Chester. John served as an usher, was an active member of the Tuesday Fellowship group where he gave frequent talks and led classes for the adult Sunday School.

More than anything, John was a family man. He loved traveling with Joyce, visiting his grandchildren, learning about new parts of the world, and was continuously working to master his German language skills. He will be remembered for his “zapping” game that made children squeal, his constant newspaper reading, and his endless love of books.  He is leaving a deep legacy of curiosity and learning for all who knew him.  He was deeply loved and will be remembered always.

A memorial service will be delayed until people can safely assemble. The family will notify friends and loved ones when details of a future service are available.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the University of Pennsylvania Hospice Friends Fund or the Crosslands Residents’ Association, stipulating the “Crosslands Library Fund” at address 1660 East Street Rd, Kennett Square, PA 19348, in honor of John.

Arrangements are by Matthew J. Grieco of Grieco Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc. (484-734-8100).  For online condolences, please visit www.griecofunerals.com

Paul L. Smyth, 89, a longtime resident of West Grove, died Monday, January 17, at the Pocopson Home, West Chester.  He was the husband of the late Martha Jean (Kelly) Smyth who died in 1993. Born on Sept. 14, 1932, he was the son of the late Oswald & Dora (Drennon) Smyth.

Mr. Smyth worked on a dairy farm and later became the caretaker for Camp Saginaw. He loved watching the Philadelphia sports teams and golf.  In his free time, he enjoyed fishing.

Surviving are his three grandsons: Mathew Peterson of Pensacola, Fla., Tim Peterson (Dorothy) of West Grove, and James Peterson of West Grove; and four great-grandchildren: Victoria, Jacob, Ashley, and James.

A private burial is planned in Faggs Manor Cemetery.  Arrangements by the Foulk Funeral Home of West Grove; please visit Mr. Smyth’s online memorial by going to www.kuzoandfoulkfh.com.

Tina H. Becker (nee Herrman), 67, of West Chester, died at her home on Jan. 16, surrounded by her family. Tina was born July 24, 1954, at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla., the daughter of Thomas E. and Dorothy M. Herrman. She was raised in Marlborough Village and Pocopson Township, graduating from Unionville High School in 1972.

She married Walter C. Becker III in 1975 and they made their home first in East Fallowfield township and later in West Chester. Tina and Charlie were devoted to each other for the more than 31 years of their marriage. They complimented each other in numerous ways and their bond was a special one. Tina was a proud and devoted mother to Jeffrey and Erin, and she supported their educational and professional endeavors without reservation. Tina was a dedicated and faithful employee of the County of Chester for more than 49 years, working in the controller’s office and in the Department of Computing and Information Services where she was deputy director and IT audit manager. Tina believed strongly in the importance of government services and was especially proud of working to support the county’s election tabulation and other voter services. In both her professional and personal time, Tina was dedicated to mastering her craft.

At home, she was a wizard as a seamstress, the creator of many craft projects, and as a gardener. She had incredible skills in the kitchen, a self-taught gourmet who nourished her family by cooking her way through the great recipes, imparting not only full stomachs but also a passion for food culture to her children. Food always made the holidays an even more special occasion for those that gathered at her table.

During the past 15 years, Tina turned her acumen and meticulous nature to genealogical research, vastly expanding her family’s knowledge of its own roots in the process. She enjoyed trips with her family that often centered around both food and culture. Tina was also a devoted fan of Phillies baseball and enjoyed an outing to the ballpark.

She was preceded in death by her husband Walter C. Becker III and her father Thomas E. Herrman. She is survived by her mother Dorothy M. Herrman of Marlborough Village, her sister Kim A. Herrman of Newark, her brother Christopher T. Herrman of Grand Junction, Colo., and her children, Jeffrey A. Becker (Hilary) of Binghamton, N.Y., and Erin M. Becker (Andrew Ehrig) of Somerville, Mass., as well as a niece and three nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a charitable contribution be made in Tina’s memory and suggests as possibilities the Chester County History Center 225 N. High St. West Chester, Pa. 19380, the Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Center 105 Seminary St, Pennsburg, Pa. 18073, and the Brandywine River Museum of Art 1 Hoffmans Mill Rd, Chadds Ford, Pa. 19317, all of which embody her interests and values.

Services and Interment will be private in Longwood Cemetery, Kennett Square. Plans for a memorial celebration will be announced at a later date. The family is especially grateful for the compassionate professionalism of Dr. Michele Tedeschi, Nancy Windle, and the Penn Medicine Hospice. Arrangements by DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home 410 N. Church St. West Chester, Pa. 19380 610-696-1181 www.DellaFH.com

Joseph Charles Borkovich, 42, of Chadds Ford, died Jan. 13, after an extended illness. He was born in nearby West Chester, Sept. 6, 1979, the only son of George and Veronica (Ronnie) Borkovich.

Joe was a 1998 graduate of Sanford School in Hockessin, and a 2003 graduate of The Pennsylvania State University, School of Theatre at University Park, where he earned a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in stage management. As a member of USITT (The United States Institute for Theatre Technology), he participated for several years in their Stage Management Mentorship Program. Joe was an independent professional stage manager. His contracts included work for the Radio City Rockettes, Universal Studios Orlando, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Six Flags New Jersey, Shakespeare Theater of New Jersey, The Asolo Rep (Sarasota, Fla.), the national tour of A Christmas Carol, and more. He also worked on a number of theatrical production assignments for various universities in the states of Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Beyond his stage management experience, he spent two years as manager of International Development at AEC Science & Technology, a conference event production company where he was responsible for expanding participation from companies and organizations including the countries of Brazil, China, Israel, Japan, Mexico, and Switzerland. Joe is survived by his parents, three aunts, three uncles, numerous cousins, and his two beloved god-daughters, Kaia and Grace. An avid reader, Joe enjoyed music, movies, video gaming, fine foods, travel, and was a certified diver. There will be no public memorial services at this time. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the Brandywine Valley SPCA, https://bvspca.org/donate/ or to the World Wildlife Fund, https://www.worldwildlife.org/. For condolences please visit https://www.kuzoandfoulkfh.com/.