Obituary of Imogene Boyd Hurd
Imogene Katherine Boyd was born on November 28, 1933, her parents were Joe and Lucille Boyd. Raised in The Bronx with her brother Bob till her family moved to Baldwin, NY during World War 2. While growing up in Baldwin, Geni became involved with an ahead of its time celebration of womanhood. Baldwin High School was home to an institution known as “Girls Week” and “Sports Night”. These events highlighted the strength and beauty of the girls growing up in Baldwin. The celebration was the brainchild of Ethel Kloberg, a pioneer in the process of empowering the young women of Baldwin. “Perhaps this is because no other activity offers such inspirational stimulus and such glamorous challenge to the imagination of the girls, or perhaps it is because the girls themselves recognize and appreciate the tribute paid to them by home, school and community during this special week” was written by the administration of Baldwin High about its history. The values that were taught impacted Geni her entire life and the ties that she made at BHS created lifelong friendships that lasted to her passing.
The fall after her graduation, Geni went to St. Lawrence University where she excelled in her studies and made more lifelong friends through the adventures of joining the Tri Delt sorority and helping manage the annual SLU Winter Carnival. St. Lawrence was pivotal place in Geni’s life, her love of it created a recurring pilgrimage to return for reunions for the next 50 years. Geni married and had three sons. Peter, Christopher and James were apples of her eye. There was no more devoted mother than she was to her boys. She dedicated her life to do what ever was capable to help bring love and happiness into her children’s lives and this never physically stopped until her passing, that love exists intangibly forever.
Geni’s true calling was teaching the virtues and values of language. Words, pronouns, prepositions, punctuation, grammar and run on sentences were the playing field for the students she was charged with. Showing them the importance of the ability to be proficient and the tutelage that was given to assist them in this journey was done with a tenderness that broke down the barriers of maturing teenagers. Her fellow teachers who lived in the West Islip school district paid her an incredible compliment by always pulling strings so that their children would be taught by her because Geni Hurd had the biggest heart in the building. Teaching for so long, she would forever bump into scores of her former students, years even decades after their graduation, the first two sentences out of their mouths were how good it was to see her and that she was the kindest teacher they ever had.
Geni’s love of the arts led to boxes and boxes of Playbills, Elton John and Billy Joel concerts and a yearly Shakespearian festival of 14 plays in 5 days in Canada. This very statement is responsible for how she found her new home on the north shore of Long Island. Standing in the TKTS line in Time Square after selling her home in West Islip, a woman in front of her gasped out at the literary stamina it would take for such an endeavor. They struck up a conversation, the woman asked where she lived, which she didn’t have an answer for and the woman responded, “You have to moves into The Towers!” Geni’s new home was found at the North Shore Towers, right around the corner from her best friend, a new life and new friendships that she continued until her passing.
Imogene is survived by her loving sons, Peter, Chris (Holly), James (Pamela) and her three adoring grandchildren, Dylan, Waverly (Richard) and Chelsea. The love and kindness that shined from Geni has touched so many for so long that all the angels are sharpening up their game because Geni Hurd’s in town. Arrangements entrusted to Dodge-Thomas Funeral Home of Glen Cove.
