Herbert Ashley Durfee M.D. Jr.

Herbert Ashley Durfee, Jr., M.D., Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, with family at his side, peacefully died on September 21, 2015 at the University of Vermont Medical Center. Herbert was born on November 5, 1924 in Burlington, VT. He was one of four children of Herbert A. Durfee, M.D., Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology (UVM '20) (b. 8/14/1897, d. 2/24/1949) and Margaret Elizabeth Spaulding Durfee (b. 1/11/1898, d. 1/6/1990). He graduated from Burlington High School (Edmunds) in 1942. He attended and received a bachelor of science degree from Yale University and an M.D. from the University of Vermont in 1948. He completed a two-year rotating internship at the Lennox Hill Hospital in New York prior to taking a year of fellowship in pathology with Dr. Arthur Hertig at the Free Hospital for Women in Brookline, MA. Following two years of active duty with the U.S. Air Force (Medical Corps) in Wiesbaden, Germany, Dr. Durfee returned to Boston where he did his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the Boston Lying-In Hospital and the Free Hospital for Women.

Dr. Durfee joined the University of Vermont faculty of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology as instructor in 1957 and rose to professor in 1970, where he remained until his retirement in 1990. He served the university with distinction in numerous administrative capacities, reflecting the unwavering esteem he is accorded by his colleagues. For many years beginning in 1966, he served as associate chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology and on four occasions as acting chair. He championed the problem-oriented-medical-record in lectures and publications both locally and nationally. Dr. Durfee also served the community in many ways. He twice was elected president of the medical staff of the Medical Center Hospital of Vermont (University of Vermont Medical Center) and served with distinction on numerous hospital committees. He was chair of the Vermont section of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists on two occasions and contributed important service to this organization, both at the regional and national levels.

Dr. Durfee was known by three decades of medical students, residents, and fellow faculty members for his quiet and practical approach to the teaching of healthcare delivery for women and for his superb clinical acumen.

On September 18, 1947 in St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral, Burlington, VT, he was married to Elizabeth Lea Dole (b. 9/20/1925, d. 10/18/2008) by then-Rector Charles Martin who became Canon of the Washington National Cathedral. Their covenant of marriage lasted for 61 years until ""Betsy"" succumbed to Alzheimer's.

With Elizabeth, he spent countless hours participating in numerous activities and hobbies, including but not limited to the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts, UVM Recital Hall, Mozart Festival, Lane Series, among other regional cultural events. He and Elizabeth avidly participated in genealogical and historical research. Together they participated in the Society of Mayflower Descendants (7 descendants), Chittenden County Historical Society, Ethan Allen Homestead, UVM Robert Hull Fleming Museum, Vermont Historical Society, and National Society of Colonial Dames, Vermont Chapter. It was through helping Elizabeth with her work as Regent of the Gunston Hall Plantation home of George Mason in Mason Neck, VA (a historic home owned by the State of Virginia and administered by the National Society of Colonial Dames) that he had the opportunity to meet then-First Lady Barbara Bush.

He so loved and adored Elizabeth. When not ""on call"", the two did everything together. They shared trips to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, the Frick Gallery in New York City, and to Gunston Hall in Virginia. No matter where they were, when they walked it would always be arm in arm. That was most evident during the last six year's of Elizabeth's life. His saintly devotion to Elizabeth would daily steer him to The Arbors where he'd help with her care. He'd try to chat with her, help her eat or drink. He'd try to make her as comfortable as possible. He'd comb her hair, fix a button, or straighten her blouse. But, in addition to all that care, he'd always stroll the hallways with her - arm in arm.

Like his father, throughout his lifetime, Herbert had a passion for photography. During most of his travels he brought along his Rolleiflex and Rolleicord cameras and photographed the people and places he encountered. Proudly, through his son Eleazer and Vermont photographer Don Ross, in the spring of 2015, he was pleased to enjoy a black and white photographic exhibit at the UVM Robert Hull Fleming Museum titled, ""Travelers in Postwar Europe"" honoring his talent for composition and his deep interest in the people he met in his travels during his post World War II travels to Germany, Paris, London, and Italy.

In addition, he enjoyed his luncheons first with the ""Wizards"" of the Merlin Corporation (an investment group of local businessmen formed through construction of the original Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge at Exit 14 off Williston Road). When that group opted to divest and enjoy their earnings, he ""joined"" the ""Thursday Lunch Members"" - a group of retired individuals with many ties to the Greater Burlington Region meeting weekly to share stories and camaraderie.

He is survived by two sons Herbert A. Durfee, III and his wife Tracy Lynn Hunt Durfee, and their son Herbert A. Durfee, IV and daughter Madison Watkins Durfee, and Eleazer Lea Dole Durfee and his wife Christy Michelle Post, and their daughter Ruby Elizabeth Durfee. He also is survived by his brother in-law Edward W. Jenkins, MD. Surviving him as well are several nieces and nephews. He was pre-deceased by his sisters Margaret Ann Durfee West (d. 9/2015) and her husband Russell C. West (d. 5/2010), and their son Russell C. West, Jr. (d. 2006), Mary Jane Durfee Jenkins (d. 11/2014), and Nancy Spaulding Durfee (d. 3/1979).

Herbert also is survived by Dorothy ""Dot"" Casey and her daughter Kathy with whom he shared a special friendship for many years, especially after the death of Elizabeth.

Special thanks to the faculty and staff at the University of Vermont Medical Center whose kind and graceful care during his last several weeks was noticeably tender and modeled the type of soft, yet professional, bedside manner he himself so often taught and is most remembered.

A memorial service celebrating Herbert's life will be held at 11:00am, on Friday, October 16, 2015, in St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral, 2 Cherry Street, Burlington, VT. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a donation be made in Herbert's memory to the University of Vermont Medical Center's ""Mother-Baby Project"", 111 Colchester Ave., Burlington, VT, 05401 or to the UVM Robert Hull Fleming Museum, 61 Colchester Ave., Burlington, VT, 05405.

Arrangements are in the care of the Ready Funeral and Cremation Service. To send online condolences, please visit: www.readyfuneral.com .