BajaNews - 7-20-2006 at 01:32 AM
http://www.marinij.com/marin/ci_4069338
by Beth Ashley
Marin attorney Roger Hurt, a pillar of the Stinson Beach community and lifelong advocate for social justice, died of a heart attack July 8 while scuba
diving in Baja California. He was 61.
He and his lawyer wife, Elizabeth Sapanai, were preparing for their second dive of the day when - after complaining of shortness of breath - he sank
into the water. Sapanai, already below the surface, pulled him back up, but efforts to revive him failed.
His body was cremated in La Paz and his wife and a friend dove into the waters off Danzante Island and distributed the ashes - and an armload of
flowers - in a cove where the accident occurred.
A memorial service will be announced later, according to Sapanai, who returned Monday to Stinson Beach where both made their home since 1978.
Sapanai and Hurt, veteran divers, were frequent visitors to the town of Loreto, Baja Sur, where they were negotiating to buy property and build a
home. At the moment, she is "inclined" to follow through on their dream, perhaps swayed by the generosity and sympathy she received from residents
there.
"The hospital, the doctor and the ambulance would accept no money," she said. "The owners of the hotel where I subsequently stayed with friends and
family would not take payment for our rooms."
Mr. Hurt grew up in Los Angeles, attended University of California at Berkeley and Hastings School of Law. He first practiced law in the Alameda
County Public Defenders Office before entering private practice in Oakland. He moved his office to Marin in 1990.
His practice was "every kind of criminal defense, from petty theft to death penalty cases," his wife said.
A law colleague, Douglas Horngrad of Mill Valley, called Mr. Hurt "a consummate defense attorney. He was very dedicated, very sincere, very
hard-working, absolutely committed to his clients and a scholar of the law. I had a lot of admiration for him as a person and as an attorney."
The two worked on several capital cases together, and Mr. Hurt still had one client on death row.
Sapanai and Mr. Hurt met when they represented co-defendants in a seven-week kidnap trial in Oakland. They were married in 1980.
They lived on Panoramic Highway above Stinson Beach in a sprawling home that Hurt largely built by himself.
Chris Harrington, a resident of Stinson, says Hurt was "active in all manner of events out here." He was a coordinator of the Village Association and
recently served on the capital campaign committee for renovation of the community center.
"He was generally an active and committed participant in the social life of the community," Harrington said.
He was on the founding board of Alternate Defenders, Inc., a Marin nonprofit run by Sapanai that provides attorneys to indigent clients when the
public defender has a conflict of interest and can't take the case.
He also worked for more than a decade in Latin America, helping file habeas corpus petitions in Guatemala on behalf of families of missing loved ones,
leading groups to Nicaragua and Guatemala to meet with grass roots social organizations, accompanying stikers at a Guatemala glass factory, being an
official observer at the 1990 Nicaragua election, and walking long distances in the hot and dusty countryside to help with the polio vaccination
campaign in Nicaragua.
Annually, during the 1980s, he helped rebuild houses and schools in Northern Nicaragua that had been destroyed by the Contras.
Sapanai said her husband "had an intense need to see that justice was done."
Mr. Hurt is survived by a stepdaughter, Lenite Johnson, and a grandson, Chance Roger Chapin, both of Newport Beach, and a niece and nephew, Janet Hurt
of Seattle and Terry Hurt of Santa Barbara.
elizabeth - 7-20-2006 at 11:33 AM
That article is about my husband. I had expected more from the people on this board. That "joke" was just plain painful. I can't tell you how hard
it was to see those comments, and how I can't stop crying or shaking having seen them.
Roger was the sort of lawyer that you would have wanted on your side if you were ever accused of a crime. He was the sort of person you would have
wanted for a neighbor. He gave advice to friends and neighbors freely, did more pro bono work than you ever might imagine, and volunteered more time
and energy than anyone else I have ever known, from town organizations to helping an individual with a building project.
For those of you who found it tasteless, thank you for your comments.
Natalie Ann - 7-20-2006 at 11:43 AM
Dear Elizabeth,
I was shocked and saddened when I opened this post regarding the loss of your husband Roger. Although I did not know him personally, I knew of him
and his work through friends. He was an accomplished and admirable man, and I feel certain you had some wonderful years together.
I am so sorry for your loss. Know that you and yours are in my heart and in my prayers.
As for MrBill's comments... I find myself embarrassed for my fellow man. I am so very sorry you had to experience this.
With sincere caring,
Nena
[Edited on 7-20-2006 by Natalie Ann]
[Edited on 7-20-2006 by Natalie Ann]
satisfied now Bill
capitolkat - 7-20-2006 at 11:46 AM
Elizabeth-- please accept my utmost sympathy for the loss of your beloved husband. Some people use the internet to say things they would never
consider appropriate in person. I'm sure your loss is a considerable burden and I apologize for the tasteless comments of those who should know
better. From what I have read I'm sure your husband was a fine man and well worth our admiration. If it's any consolation I always hoped I would end
my days in a beautiful place doing something I enjoyed- and it appears your husband had that joy.
Again - my sympathy and good wishes to you and your family.--- Norm
Elizabeth
Sharksbaja - 7-20-2006 at 12:02 PM
Know in your heart that most of us Nomads have a heart.
Lo siento.
I just can't believe how callous some are. Please know that if you need a shoulder I'll lend you mine.
Now, with that said. Where the hell is a mod when you really need one. People with dementia should be barred from this forum.
Ken Bondy - 7-20-2006 at 03:59 PM
elizabeth
If you're listening, as a diver I couldn't think of a better way to go than diving with a loved one in the beautiful Sea of Cortez. If ya gotta
go.....you know the rest. I wish there were some brilliant words that I could say to ease the pain, there aren't. This is the best I can do. I am
sorry for your loss.
++Ken++
djh - 7-20-2006 at 05:54 PM
Elizabeth,
I logged back on this eve to learn that you ARE the Elizabeth who corresponded with me back in Jan. about my Loreto place and your previous interest
in it... (I was impressed then with how gracefully you dealt with an akward situation.)
I had hoped all day that this was not the case, as I know you are a Nomad - and might read the insensitive comment posted.
My wife and I want to say that we are sorry for your loss.
Loosing my father a few years ago, and with my mother in the last stages of the slow decline from Alzheimers, and my wife's loosing her father this
past winter, we know that a few kind words can help a sad heart.
We are also shocked and saddened by the lack of compassion you have experienced by one Nomad. I imagine that there will be more similar posts from
Nomads who want to offer a little of their heart, compassion, and encouragement - and to distance themselves from the judgemental, self-righteousness
of ONE..... (who will reap the consequences of his own behavoir and choices.)
Be with your family and friends, and please disregard the comment made by that one.
It is sad when one becomes so RIGHT that they can't be wrong, or when one becomes so LEFT that ther IS "no-one left"...
[Edited on 7-21-2006 by djh]
Bedman - 7-20-2006 at 06:15 PM
Elizabeth,
Our deepest sympathy for your loss.
I have to agree with Ken Bondy in that, When my turn comes, I would appreciate it happening while I'm doing something I enjoy and not in a hospital.
Sincerely,
Steve and Emma
CaboMagic - 7-20-2006 at 06:52 PM
Elizabeth and Family,
From our hearts to yours, please accept our thoughts and prayers on your loss.
Rest In Peace Roger.
Tommy & Lori Garcia
capt. mike - 7-21-2006 at 05:25 AM
Bill, why so wishy washy? get off the fence. grow some nads and tell us what you really think.
To the Widow Elizabeth: Even libs who loved and were loved deserve a good send off. Yours while diving was cool. need to plan my exit strategery
now............maybe strapped to a drone and sent out over the S.O.C.
what a ride!!
Mike --first answer your mail
beercan - 7-21-2006 at 08:22 AM
Then , you're already riding in an Indian burial machine !!
We have both come close to it in those indian machines , yours at Brown and mine at Rancho San Inez, so don't worry about strapping on ---you're in
!!!
Cincodemayo - 7-21-2006 at 12:21 PM
Now I can see being bitter at defense attorneys but to be so callous at someone's loss....Major foot in mouth desease. What an a-hole.
Elizabeth...many condolances for your tragic loss. He's now diving with angels, Neptune and Nemo.
Skipjack Joe - 7-21-2006 at 05:23 PM
Elizabeth,
Your husband sounds like a wonderful man. I wish I had met him. Perhaps some day I will. I don't know his political views nor do I care. It sounds
like he really accomplished a great deal in his lifetime and that must have been very satisfying. I suppose that when your time comes there is no
stopping it. You just have to feel lucky that he was part of your life for so long.
Please don't write to board off because of a few inappropriate comments. I have always valued your posts and will continue to do so.
Skipjack
bajapablo - 7-21-2006 at 05:28 PM
Elizabeth,
Don't know if we were related but with a name like Hurt he had to be a good one. I wish I would of known Roger. lucky to go doing something he loved.
my condolences.
Sincerely,
Paul Hurt
roundtuit - 7-21-2006 at 05:32 PM
Anyone who loves Baja and enjoys the waters can't be all that bad. Hope when my time comes it's fast and doing something I enjoy doing not living in a
hospital bed. So sorry for your loss as I'm sure you have alot of good memories being togather