David Haydon Riddick, M.D. of Leesburg, formerly of Richmond, has passed away after a long illness.
Dr. Riddick was born on Jan. 6, 1940, in Lynchburg.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Susan Deredith Riddick; sons, Gregory P. Riddick and Christopher S. Riddick (Crystal); daughters, Jennifer R. Gorman (Robert) and Rebekah E. McCormick (Scott); and grandchildren, Lucy Gorman, Norah McCormick, and Hugh McCormick.
He was predeceased by his son, Scott Marshall Riddick; his parents, Dr. Roland P. Riddick and Lucy Catherine Riddick; his brother, Roland P. Riddick Jr.; and sister, Nancy Camden Witt.
Dr. Riddick graduated from Fairfax High School in 1958 and from Randolph Macon College in 1962, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Kappa Alpha. He graduated first in his class from the University of Virginia Medical School in 1966 and while there was inducted into the Medical Honor Society, AOA, and the Raven Society. After medical school he began his internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Yale-New Haven Hospital in New Haven, Conn. From 1968-1970 he served with the Public Health branch of the Armed Forces in the Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md. After he was honorably discharged from the Public Health branch, he returned to the University of Virginia Medical Center to complete his training in Internal Medicine, and a fellowship specializing in Hematology and Oncology, later becoming board certified in both fields. He joined Medical Specialists in Richmond in 1974, and was one of the first physicians to practice hematology/oncology in the Richmond area.
Dr. Riddick was greatly revered by his colleagues and hospital staff and will be remembered as an incredibly experienced and caring physician. His empathy and listening skills won the hearts of his patients and families alike as they dealt with the difficult circumstances of terminal illnesses. Seeing the need for a palliative approach to his terminal patients and as a pioneer in the field of palliative care, he founded the first hospice in Virginia, known as the Hospice of Central Virginia. Located in Retreat Hospital, the inpatient hospice opened in 1984 with Dr. Riddick as medical director. The concept of hospice spread quickly and became a much welcomed and needed service in the community.
Along with his dedication to his patients and their care, Dr. Riddick applied his boundless energy and detailed attention to a number of hobbies, which included painting, gardening, fishing, spiritual studies, reading and traveling. His beautiful paintings hang in many homes and demonstrate his keen sense of color and unique characterizations. He became a Master Gardener in his retirement and took great pride in tending his vegetable garden and educating the public about horticulture. He enjoyed many international trips with his wife and time spent with his children and grandchildren on the family farm. He will be remembered for his immense intelligence, dry wit, and tenacity for any project he undertook.
A private memorial in his honor will be conducted in the near future.
The family asks that any honorariums be made in his name and sent to the Hospice of Central Virginia, 1700 Bayberry Ct., Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23226.
