Daniel Kurland

Daniel Kurland

Passed: January 26, 2025
Charleston, WV

Daniel Kurland

Passed: January 26, 2025
Charleston, WV

Obituary

Dan Kurland died at Hubbard House Memorial Hospice early Sunday Morning, January 26, 2025.

He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Gail Bellamy; his daughters by Roberta deSalle, Delia (Tanya Lofgren) and Jessi (Mark Byers); granddaughters, Claudia Byers, Lydia Byers and Diana Byers; sister, Rachel Kurland (David McWilliams); nephews, Sam McWilliams (Geraldine), Benjamin McWilliams (Christine), and Zelig Kurland (Rachel Markowitz), and niece, Brenda Kurland (Mitch Dernis).

He was predeceased by his father, Samuel, and mother, Mildred; brother, Jonathan Kurland, and sister-in-law, Dorothy.

Dan and Gail loved to travel (a master planner), taking his wife, Gail, to places all over the world, and talking politics with the people he would meet. Every year, he would plan a themed “third” seder for friends, finding poetry to touch people’s hearts and minds and stimulate conversations, tears, and laughter across the table. Dan was respected, loved, and admired by all those who knew him, irrespective of politics.

Dan and Gail came to Charleston, WV, in 2002. He joined the protests of the Iraq War, joining the Reverend Jim Lewis and the Covenant House Executive Directors, Barbara Ferraro and Pat Hussey. The latter hired Dan to be their lobbyist for health care and social justice. Even as a lobbyist, Dan was respected for his efforts to educate both sides of the House on issues relating to health. He was an honest broker.

They left WV for Gail to join the faculty of FSU College of Medicine. While in FL, he returned to sculpting. After 11 years, the two returned to WV, their home of choice in retirement. He was a gifted sculptor in stone and was juried into Tamarack.

Dan was the author of two books: I Know What it Says … What does it Mean? Critical Skills for Critical Reading. The book is now out of print, but is accessible on his webpage (criticalreading.com) where people could receive a PDF copy for a requested contribution to one of Dan’s favorite charities — Médecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors without Borders) and The Net, The Web, and You, published in 1996 early in the Internet’s tenure to assist people, including his wife, in using the internet.

Dan’s interests were obviously many and varied. He will be missed by many whose lives he touched, directly, and indirectly through the couple’s charitable giving.

He was a mensch.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Medecins Sans Frontieres, WV Manna Meal or WV Covenant House.

A Celebration of Life will be held in the near future.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.barlowbonsall.com .

Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

No Events & Services

No Charities & Donations

No Gallery Photos

No Videos

Leave A Condolence

Choose a Candle

Call Us Now!