Francis J. Haddy, M.D., Ph.D., age 94, of Rochester, passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2017.
Dr. Haddy, who had a long and distinguished career as a professor of physiology, moved to Rochester in 2001 after retiring from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. He had previously held positions in medical schools at Michigan State University, the University of Oklahoma, and Northwestern University. A beloved and respected teacher and researcher, Dr. Haddy trained many medical students and research physiologists.
After graduating from high school in Kiester, Minn., he attended Luther College in Iowa, then transferred to the University of Minnesota, where he received his Bachelor’s and M.D. degrees. During medical school, he was supported by the Army and later served the Army in the Medical Corps and as a researcher. He received training in internal medicine as a Fellow at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester and later returned to the University of Minnesota for his Ph.D. studies in physiology under the guidance of Dr. Maurice Visscher.
Over his career, he was the author of about 190 primary research publications and nearly 500 other papers, editorials, and abstracts. He served as chair of three different physiology departments and assisted in the start-up of two medical schools. He served as President of the American Physiological Society, and received the Mayo Distinguished Alumnus Award (2003) and the Daggs Award from the APS.
After retirement, Dr. Haddy developed a talent for painting in acrylics and was active in the artists’ group SEMVA, the SouthEastern Minnesota Visual Artists. He was deeply devoted to his family and greatly enjoyed gatherings with extended family and friends for fishing, hunting, golfing and other activities.
Dr. Haddy is survived by his wife of 70 years, Dr. Theresa Brey Haddy; daughters, Carol Haddy Froelich and Alice Haddy Hellen; grandchildren, Kari Haddy Climer, Jennifer Haddy, Michael Haddy, Sarah Haddy, Jessica Froelich, Rachel Froelich, and Deborah Hellen; and one great-grandchild, James Climer. He was preceded in death by his son, Richard Haddy.
His love of research and learning, his great respect for his fellow human beings, and his high level of integrity in all he did were an influential example for his family, students, and colleagues.