Harry James Hurley Jr., 82, leading dermatologist

Harry James Hurley Jr., 82, formerly of Newtown Square, a practicing dermatologist for 56 years, died of multiple myeloma Sunday at Wellington at Hershey's Mill.

Dr. Hurley opened an office in Upper Darby in 1952 and joined his son Jeffrey in the 1990s in a practice in West Chester. He also maintained an office at Mercy Fitzgerald Medical Center in Darby, where he was on the staff for more than a half-century. He retired when he became ill in October.

For many years he was also clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania Medical School, where he researched the physiology and diseases of the sweat glands and granuloma formations with Walter Shelley. The two developed the Hurley-Shelley axillary resection technique to surgically treat excessive underarm sweating. Dr. Hurley was the author or coauthor of many professional articles and books, including the textbook Dermatology.

In 1969 he was founding president of the Pennsylvania Academy of Dermatology. He was a past president of the American Dermatological Association and the American Board of Dermatology and was the board's executive director for seven years. When he left that position in 2000, colleagues called "his diagnostic acumen second to none" and praised "his outstanding scholarship and excellent patient care."

Dr. Hurley graduated from Marple-Newtown High School at 16. He attended St. Joseph's College and graduated as one of the youngest in his class from Thomas Jefferson University School of Medicine in 1949. During the Korean War he served in the Army in Kentucky and Boston and did research in cold physiology and cold injury, which were major problems for troops fighting in Korea.

After his discharge, he completed a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital. His brother, Jack, had a skin infection, leading Dr. Hurley to switch specialties, and he completed a residency in dermatology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. From 1959 to 1962 he was chief of dermatology at Hahnemann University Hospital, and from 1962 to 1973 he was chief of dermatology at Philadelphia General Hospital.

Dr. Hurley was a talented pianist and athlete. At 6-foot-2, he played basketball in high school and quarterbacked the football team. He also played varsity basketball in college.

He enjoyed traveling and playing tennis and golf at Overbrook Golf Club with his wife, Jeanne Geiger Hurley. Her death from cancer in 1996, after 45 years of marriage, was the greatest loss of his life, their daughter Susan Paul said.

He told his family that he enjoyed his work, and it occupied his days, Paul said, but if his wife had been alive he might have retired sooner. The couple were introduced by a cousin of hers who was Dr. Hurley's roommate in medical school.

In addition to his daughter and son, Dr. Hurley is survived by another son, Harry III; daughters Marilyn Whiteman and Nancy Butler; 10 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A Funeral Mass will be said at noon today at St. Anastasia Church, 3301 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square, where friends may call after 10 a.m. Burial will be in SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery, Marple Township.