Cathy and Darrell Obituary

Cathy Csaky Hirt and Darrell Hirt died together in a taxi accident while traveling in Hungary on October 2, 2015. Their children, Karl (Mary Pat Wixted), Alex, and Tina, and their brothers, Dennis (Bonnie Armstrong) Hirt, Donald (Cheryl) Hirt, and Karl (Eva) Csaky, mourn and honor their memory, as do their many friends and relations. 

Cathy and Darrell enjoyed happy childhoods. Darrell was born on May 30, 1953 to Lonnie and Leona Hirt and grew up in Rockdale, Texas. He went to Rockdale High School and cultivated a studious image, although according to his brothers, he got up to typical small-town mischief and benefited from learning from them “how not to get caught.” He majored in pharmacology at the University of Texas in Austin and joined a pharmacy-student fraternity: either the most fun or boring frat ever. Sadly, Darrell’s father Lonnie passed away while Darrell attended college, but along with his brothers, Darrell comforted his mom and graduated in 1975. Darrell worked as a pharmacist for several years before going back to school and getting his MD from the University of Texas Southwestern in 1981. After completing residency in Michigan, Darrell moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where he joined the faculty in Nephrology at Vanderbilt and researched kidney disease. While his work hatched a life-long dislike of rabbits, Darrell’s residence in Nashville fortunately caused him to meet Cathy.

Cathy was born on August 15, 1954 to Tihamer and Susan Csaky and grew up in Durham, North Carolina. Her parents, both immigrants, rooted her in Hungarian traditions including goulash and the Christmas pastry called beigli. They also sparked a love of travel, though Cathy would insist on upgrading from transport a la cargo ship to cruise ship later in life. Cathy went to a Pennsylvania boarding school called Villa Maria before heading to Vanderbilt. There, she majored in French, indulging her love of languages that would eventually see her fluent in four. After graduating in 1976, Cathy went back to school and got her JD in 1979 from the University of Kentucky. Knowledgeable in the law and a passionate Wildcats basketball fan, Cathy headed to Germany on a Fullbright-Hays Scholarship to study at the University of Mainz. She came back to the US to work in Nashville, Tennessee for the State School Boards Association and Department of Education. 

Cathy and Darrell met in Nashville in 1986 while volunteering at the St. Peter’s homeless shelter. Their meeting symbolizes their service-oriented lives; Darrell was cooking for the residents and decided to make an extra-complicated, extra-special version of Texas chili. Cathy, ever an efficient doer, told Darrell to hurry up so that everyone could eat. Darrell kindly responded that he’d take his time, since “just because they’re homeless doesn’t mean they can’t eat like kings.” Cathy said she fell in love with him on the spot. Cathy and Darrell started dating shortly after, and happily on May 30, 1987 they married. 

Children soon followed with Karl in 1988 and Alex in 1990. Cathy and Darrell moved to Fort Worth, Texas, in 1991 and Darrell joined Tarrant Nephrology as the third partner with Dr. Ponniah Sankarapandian and Dr. Lee Anderson. The Hirts welcomed their 3rd and final child, Tina, in 1994. Cathy worked in law and celebrated finishing her Ph.D. in Public Policy in 1995. While Darrell served his patients, Cathy ran for Fort Worth City Council and served from 1996 to 1999; she led an anti-pollution “Don’t Mess with Fort Worth” campaign and a youth volunteerism program called “Fort Worth Promise.” Cathy would continue her community involvement by serving on several boards, notably: President of the Board of Catholic Charities, President of the Fort Worth League of Neighborhoods, Chair of the Tarrant County Youth Collaboration, Co-Chair of the “Get Out the Vote” campaign for the Tarrant County League of Women Voters, Communities in Schools, and Young Women’s Leadership Academy. Cathy also ran for mayor twice in 2003 and 2011. 

Cathy and Darrell enjoyed adventuring together. They traveled to countless countries. Favorite trips included biking in Tuscany, traveling around the world in three weeks (Texas  Argentina  Morocco  Egypt  India  Singapore  Sydney  Texas), hiking in Patagonia, and summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro with Karl, Alex, and Tina in 2009.  Cathy and Darrell loved learning and making new friends. Cathy and Darrell were devoted to their Catholic faith. Cathy and Darrell drew strength from the life of St. Francis of Assisi and the writings of Thomas Merton, and they visited Rome and saw Pope Francis address pilgrims in 2013. They prayed together, went to mass weekly, and tried to live Christian lives of charity, forgiveness, hope, humility, and love. They passed these values to their children. Cathy and Darrell enjoyed opera, music, reading together, and dinner parties with friends. They put people at the center of their lives and loved their friends and family. 

Cathy and Darrell lived full lives. Wherever they went, they brought kindness, warmth, and love. They night they died, their Hungarian relatives said that Cathy and Darrell shined with love for each other and for their children. They will be missed. 

Cathy and Darrell’s memorial service will be held on Saturday October 17, 2015 at 11am at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, 3314 Dryden Rd. Fort Worth, TX 76109. All are welcome. In lieu of flowers, donations to Catholic Charities Fort Worth, the Young Women’s Leadership Academy, or the National Kidney Foundation would be appreciated.