Marjorie Brothwell Hurie

MADISON-Marjorie Brooks Brothwell Hurie died suddenly on July 31, 2009, during an accident horseback riding in Brewster, MA. She was born on October 3, 1946, to Wilbur H. Brothwell and Elsie MacMillan Brothwell of Chester, Connecticut. Marjorie attended Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, where she met the love of her life, Hickory Robert Hurie. After their marriage in December 1967, she graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a baccalaureate degree in English; she later earned a Master's of Nursing and completed advanced coursework in epidemiology at the same place of study.

A woman of energy and intellect, Marjorie lovingly balanced family, work, and school, declaring that ""you can only successfully do two of the three at a time."" With Hickory, she delighted in raising her two sons, Justin Brothwell Hurie and Andrew Hilton Hurie. She was a thoughtful and loving mother, always offering a warm meal and a generous ear, along with an unabashed opinion or two. She encouraged her sons to further their education and seek a sense of purpose, and she opened her home to several other young people searching out their way in life.

As an epidemiologist, first for the City of Madison and later for the State Department of Public Health, Marjorie combined her passion for scientific exploration and the written word through her research articles, grant writing, and public outreach. She helped develop and coordinate statewide programs for Hepatitis B and C, bringing funding and prestige to the department and immunizations to the most vulnerable.

Throughout her life, Marjorie cultivated her love of art and literature, gardening (especially green beans), cooking (just about anything), and travel. Retirement did not slow her stride, as she studied art and religious history, became a master gardener, practiced yoga, returned to work part time in public health, and relished the company of family and friends. She was grateful to have visited the families of her two daughters-in-law, Renu Syal and Carolina Zuniga, in Cherry Hill, New Jersey and Pasto, Colombia respectively. Marjorie spent the final days of her life on the beaches of Cape Cod, the site of many summers with her parents and her own family and friends.

In addition to her immediate family, she lives on in the hearts of her brothers, Hilton Brothwell and Charles Brothwell; her nieces and nephews, Merritt and Sarah Brothwell, and Daniel and Jenn Hurie; her in-laws, Lisa Brothwell, Tania Hurie, and Blane Hurie; her cousins, Jane Wallor Collins and Alan Wallor; and her extended family including the Syals, the Zuniga Solartes, the Blanes, and the Huries.

A memorial in celebration of her life will be held at 7:00 PM on Friday, August 7^th at the Landmark Chapel of the First Unitarian Society of Madison, 900 University Bay Drive, Madison, Wisconsin. In lieu of flowers, please donate in Marjorie's name to either: the Madison Public Library Foundation/Friends of the Monroe Street Library, 201 West Mifflin Street, Madison, WI 53703, or Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin: www.ppwi.org/donate/ifyoubelieve.aspx