Richard Edward Hurtak

Richard Edward Hurtak, a beautiful soul, passed away peacefully on August 31, 2024.  Richard was surrounded by his family at home in Jacksonville, Florida. He is deeply loved and will be missed by all.  Richard was a beloved and amazing husband, father, Pap-Pap, and friend.

Richard was born to Stella and Emil Hurtak in Miami, Florida on December 5, 1957. He grew up in Miami and moved to Jacksonville in 1996, where he lived until his passing.  He grew up being an altar server in the church and was a very active volunteer in the St. Joseph Catholic School and Church community. He was a chef, entrepreneur, and homemaker and had a list of hobbies a mile long. He loved golfing, scuba diving, traveling, cooking, gardening, animals, and sports of all kinds (both playing and watching) - Go Jags! just to name a few. He met the love his life Lori Hurtak in 1983 and married on May 5, 1990, after Lori completed her degree.  They enjoyed a long and happy marriage of 34 years.

Richard was very outgoing. He never met a stranger he couldn't make a friend by the end of a conversation. Between volunteering at all the school functions, coaching softball and flag football, field trips, and being an active part of the Men’s Club, to contributing to the restoration of the “Little” Historic Church, and pressure washing or painting the school or church grounds he was always around to help anyone who needed it. He loved his community and would always be looking for the best sales on grocery items to bring to the Mandarin Food Bank, especially on turkeys and hams around the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

Richard’s health over the past few years was his biggest challenge, but his strength and determination to fight to be there for his family was greater. He was no stranger to the health system over his lifetime, from early sports injuries to knee replacements from such an active adventurous life, he never let his body tell him he couldn’t do something. He passed on that determination to his children, as well as his love for his family.

Richard was preceded in death by his mother and father, Stella and Emil Hurtak, and his brother, Tom Hurtak.  He is survived by his wife, Lori Hurtak, children, Katie (Anthony) Magro and William Hurtak, grandson, Alexander John Magro and brother, Emil Hurtak and many other family members and friends who will miss him dearly.

A private funeral mass will be held for family and friends at St. Joseph’s Historic Catholic Church, 4124 Loretto Road, Jacksonville, Florida on Saturday, September 7, 2024, at one o’clock in the afternoon.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Richard’s honor to Community Hospice of Jacksonville or Jacksonville Humane Society.