Henry Clay Alexander

Henry Clay Alexander, MD, died peacefully on January 15, 2026. He lived a life at the intersection of art, science, and service.

Clay grew up on a small family farm, where early lessons in integrity, curiosity, and hard work shaped the path he would follow for the rest of his life. Those childhood years, spent in the fields, among trees, and in the company of a close-knit family, instilled in him a lifelong appreciation for nature, humor, and the quiet joys of daily living.

He studied English at Yale and earned his medical degree from Cornell University Medical College. After his surgical training, he served as an Army physician during the Vietnam War, caring for wounded soldiers at a military hospital in Japan. He often said the experience showed him the full measure of sacrifice and the profound privilege of being a healer.

Over the decades that followed, he built a respected career as a surgeon, teacher, and mentor, first in New York City and later in Dallas. He believed deeply that medicine required both skill and empathy: "The best physicians," he wrote, "combine science for healing and art for caring." He lived that philosophy every day.

After retiring, he embraced a second life defined by creativity and community. He volunteered with hospice, served on the board of a local art museum, painted watercolors, carved wood, experimented with stained glass, and wrote poetry and five novels. To the end, he delighted in "frolicking with words," finding joy in expression and in the stories he crafted.

Above all, he cherished the love and companionship of his wife, Paula, who encouraged and sustained him through every chapter of his life. Their years together were his greatest happiness. As he once wrote, "Even in the waning years, it's a touch of magic to be loved like this."

He was grateful for the improbable gift of his life and for the people who filled it. He is survived by his wife, Paula, his three sons, and their families. His ashes are scattered at sea, returned, as he wished, "to the vast blue element where all life began."

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the Assistance League of North Coast or Oceanside Museum of Art in his honor.