Joseph "Joe" Hurd

Joe was an early member of Naperville Hurling and Camogie Club, joining in 2015. Joe was born in Las Vegas, Nevada but lived in Memphis, Tennessee for most of his childhood.

Eventually, in high school he made his way to Florida and would later attend Florida State University to study as an engineer. Engineering later brought him to the Chicago area where he worked as a Cryogenic Engineer for Fermilab. Joe was playing broom ball at Fermilab and heard about the Naperville Hurling Club from a colleague. He called to inquire about playing at about 5:30 p.m. on a practice day and was playing the game by 6:00 p.m. Joe was “all in” after that first practice. He fell in love with the game. He rarely missed a practice or a game and quickly became a leader, helping make big and small decisions about the direction of the club. In 2017, he traveled with the team to San Francisco where the team won the Jr. B. National Championship. In 2018, he was elected to be the club’s 2nd Chairman/President and led the team until 2020.

Joe was a tenacious player. The other teams always knew when Joe was on the pitch.  He used his football skills, speed and physicality to his and the team’s advantage. Joe truly loved this sport and loved the club. Off the pitch most people who knew him would describe him as kind, generous, and funny. He had the kind of intelligence and wit to be able to make off the cuff comments that would make you laugh initially, but then a few seconds later you’d realize he was helping you understand an issue or inconsistency in your own position! Together, these attributes made Joe was one-of-a-kind.

​In early 2020, Joe was diagnosed with a rare sarcoma, epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) which ultimately took his life. He left an indelible mark on this club and all of those who knew him. He will always be missed.

​Donations to support Team Joe and the Sarcoma Foundation of America can be made here.