Oct. 11, 1987 — March 21, 2025
Tommy (Thomas Alfred Hurrell Jr.) made an unexpected transition from this world at age 37.
His departure leaves an absence that simply cannot be filled. In Tommy’s 37 years, he lived more fully and loved more deeply than many do in entire lifetimes.
Tommy lived with exuberance, authenticity, and an enormous, caring heart. He was a trickster and a teacher, a river guide and a philosopher, a skier, a kayaker, a mischief-maker, and one of the kindest humans to walk this Earth. He touched everyone he met with his wild joy and his ability to beckon people into the joy of the present moment.
Tommy was a devoted husband, loving son, caring brother, and loyal friend. He was an outdoor educator, river guide, whitewater kayaker, proud telemark skier (with a mind as free as his heels), and a beloved member of the Mt. Ashland Ski Patrol and St. Mary’s School faculty. In his element, he could be found navigating whitewater rapids, skiing through the trees, or wandering deep in the forest with a sparkle in his eye and he and Jules’ beloved husky-mix River at his side. He was known for his enthusiastic dance moves, his love of silly costumes, and his irrepressible sense of adventure.
Tommy’s passion for life showed up everywhere: on river trips, in classrooms, and in the many places he considered home: Illinois, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Wisconsin, the mountains of Colorado, the forests of Oregon. His adventurous spirit took him so many places: studying abroad in Rome, the desert rivers of Utah, bike-packing in Ecuador, and meandering down the heart of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. He had worked as a camp counselor and a NOLS instructor, helping young people discover courage, resilience, and wonder in the backcountry.
He inherited his love of the outdoors and fishing from his late father, Tom, and his deep well of silliness and boundless love from his mother, Dianne. Tommy had two little sisters, Mary and Sarah. The three of them cherished each other tremendously and their bond grew deeply over the last few years they had together, making treasured memories that will last forever.
Tommy shared a rare and radiant love with his wife and soulmate, Jules, a fellow river guide, wild soul, and the true home of his heart. Together, they navigated wild waters and life’s deepest canyons side by side, their love carrying them as a fierce and joyful current.
He brought magic and electricity into everything he did, and somehow made space for both reverence and playfulness in the same moment. He reminded us that being alive is a gift, and that we are here to love deeply, embrace adventure, and never take ourselves too seriously.
Tommy will be missed beyond words by his loving wife, Julianna (“Jules”), his mother Dianne, his sisters Mary and Sarah, his sweet husky River, and a wide-reaching constellation of family, friends, river rats, ski bums, students, and fellow weirdos who adored him.
A celebration of Tommy’s life will be held in the coming months, likely on the banks of a river, once the family has had time to re-center and plan something that truly honors this wild and radiant man.
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