Theresa Haddy

Theresa Brey Haddy, MD, of Rochester, MN, passed away at the age of 100 on January 25, 2025. She was a resident of Charter House since moving there with her husband Francis Haddy in 2001.

Dr. Haddy had a long and distinguished career as a pediatrician and professor of pediatrics. She received her MD degree in 1948 from the University of Minnesota. She trained in pediatrics at the Minnesota General Hospital in the early 1950s and later joined with two other women physicians in a general pediatric practice in Des Plaines, Illinois. She started her academic career in 1961 in the Department of Pediatrics, University of Oklahoma Medical School, where she specialized in pediatric oncology. She later held positions in the medical schools at Michigan State University and Howard University before retiring in 1989. She was board certified in Pediatrics and in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology. Over her career, she was the author of 68 research publications.

Dr. Haddy grew up in the farming community of Wabasso, Minnesota. She was the second oldest of six children born to Frank William Brey, town physician, and Elizabeth Daub Brey who had been trained as a nurse. Her father died of a brain tumor in 1940, the year she graduated from high school at the age of 16. She went on to attend the University Minnesota, where she received her Bachelor of Science degree. She had always planned to become a doctor, inspired to study medicine by her father. She was accepted into the University of Minnesota's Medical School, one of only five women in her freshman class. It was in medical school that she met her husband and fellow physician in training, Francis John Haddy. They were famously (as far as the family is concerned) introduced to each other "over a cadaver", meaning in gross anatomy class. They were married on September 21, 1946, starting a lifelong partnership of mutual support.

Dr. Haddy's specialty caring for children with potentially devastating diseases was a mark of her deeply caring personality combined with inner strength. She treated children with leukemias starting in the 1960 at a time when few treatments were available. She also treated children with blood diseases such as sickle cell anemia and finally HIV/AIDS, which became epidemic toward the end of her career. She had the unique ability carry on her demanding career while having a full home life.

She was a devoted wife and mother, balancing her home life with her full-time job as a doctor. She and her husband created a loving and supportive family life centered on their children. After retirement, she wrote a book about her life as a physician, as well as many children's stories for her grandchildren. Always creative, she learned to paint landscapes and portraits of her grandchildren. She always offered her support and guidance to encourage each child's and grandchild's special interests and talents. She was truly a woman of her time, loved and respected by her family and an inspiration to her two daughters and son.

Dr. Haddy is survived by her daughters, Carol Haddy Froelich (Stuart) and Alice Haddy Hellen (Edward); daughter-in-law, Cheryl Mitchell Haddy; grandchildren, Kari Haddy Climer (Nathan), Jennifer Haddy (Dustin), Michael Haddy (Kelly), Sarah Haddy (Blake), Jessica Froelich, Rachel Froelich Boe, and Deborah Hellen; and great-grandchildren, James Climer, Owen Climer, and Elliot Climer, Rose Anderson, and Frances Boe. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Francis John Haddy, and her son, Dr. Richard Ian Haddy.

A memorial service celebrating the Life of Theresa Haddy will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday April 26, 2025, and held at Gearty-Delmore Funeral Chapel,15800 37th Ave, N, Plymouth, MN 55446.

Donations can be made to “Charter House Benevolent Fund”

By phone - call 1-855-852-8129

Online - https://philanthropy.mayoclinic.org/donatemc

Mail - send check to Mayo Clinic Department of Development, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905 (800) 297-1185 (include the name "Theresa Haddy”)