Cyril Curran

Cyril J. Curran was born Easter Sunday, April 17, 1927, in Clontarf (a suburb of Dublin), Ireland, the only child of Matthew and Ellen (Buckley) Curran. Becoming an orphan at age seven, he grew up living in boarding schools where he completed his primary and secondary education. It was during this time that he became an avid hunter and fisherman, snaring rabbits and catching trout and salmon, to sell to local butchers and shops for pocket money. Besides providing some earnings, the sportsman ways became a lifetime passion.

Following his secondary education and just after WWII, Cyril lived in London with his uncle and aunt for a year, where he determined to return to Ireland and become a physician. He applied and was accepted into The Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin, Ireland. To pay for his education, Cyril worked evenings as a relief operator at the Irish Telephone Exchange, where he met his future wife, Rose. A time or two was spent together at Bewley’s Tea House on Grafton Street in Dublin (est. 1840, the oldest tea house in Ireland), where one could get a strong “cuppa” tea and a lovely selection of pastries.

After fulfilling his medical education in 1956 with certification as a general surgeon, Cyril and Rose immigrated to the United States for a medical opportunity in America. In 1956, they took the ship Andrea Doria to New York. Just two months later, the Andrea Doria sank after colliding with the Swedish passenger liner, Stockholm, off the coast of Nantucket – one the worst U.S. marine disasters after the Titanic.

Once in America, Cyril began a one-year general internship at Mercy Hospital in Toledo. Upon the completion of his internship, he took a psychiatry residency at the Traverse City State Hospital in Michigan, where he stayed on as a staff psychiatrist until 1964. During this time, Cyril achieved additional education in neurology at the Lafayette Clinic in Detroit.

In 1964, Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo was in the early stages of establishing a mental health program to address the needs of area residents. Cyril was selected to head up inpatient and outpatient services, and moved his family downstate. Under his guidance, the outpatient mental health services at Delano Clinic grew, and over the years satellite clinics were added throughout southwest Michigan. Cyril worked for Borgess until the early 1980’s, then he worked in private practice until taking a position with the Kalamazoo Regional Psychiatric Hospital (KRPH). He retired from KRPH in 1994, and shortly thereafter, was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis (MG), an autoimmune condition. Cyril sought treatment at Duke University, which was a leading center for MG research at that time. Fortunately, he was able to successfully manage his MG throughout his remaining years.

In retirement, Cyril and Rose enjoyed time with their children and grandchildren, visiting with friends and spent several winters in Florida, enjoying the warm weather. He also found great satisfaction in being “on-call” for all of his grandchildren, giving medical advice as needed. In his final years, Cyril continued with his lifelong habit of reading and sharing his knowledge of history, medicine and the natural sciences with others.

Cyril was a colorful storyteller and had an exceptional memory, with the ability to retain details of everything he ever read. He was an avid outdoorsman, who enjoyed hunting and fishing as well as spending time with his family. Cyril greatly enjoyed his life’s work as well as the many colleagues, nurses and co-workers, he met throughout his career. He had deep compassion for his many patients, especially individuals who were underprivileged and disenfranchised.

Cyril was predeceased by his parents and three infant children. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Rose, daughters: Deirdre (Roger), Eamar (Pat), Orla (Brian) and son, Brendan (Tracy); grandchildren: Liam (Ashley), Nora (Dane), Nathan, Zachary, Declan and Emily, and great-grand daughter, Fiona Rose. He will be greatly missed.

Visitation with friends and family will be held Friday, September 22, at 9:30 AM at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Fr. Bart Hall, 939 Charlotte Ave, Kalamazoo. The Rosary will be recited at 10:30 AM with Mass at 11:00 AM. A luncheon will follow in Fr. Bart Hall. Visit Cyril’s webpage at BetzlerLifeStory.com to archive favorite memories, photos, and sign his guestbook. Memorial donations may be made to Integrated Services of Kalamazoo (formerly Community Mental Health). Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo (269) 375-2900.