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BORN
1943
DIED
2021
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Anthony Hedley Obituary
Anthony Keith Hedley born on October 2, 1943 in Durban, South Africa passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his wife and children on April 19, 2021.
Tony was a world renowned orthopedic surgeon, author, researcher, and educator specializing in joint reconstruction and replacement. He received his medical degree from the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1968. In 1977 he received his registration as Specialist Orthopedic Surgeon from the South African Medical and Dental Council. Doctor Hedley is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh. He completed his fellowship in orthopedic surgery at St Thomas Hospital, London, and his postdoctoral studies in Orthopedic Surgery and Bio-Engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles. In 1982 he moved to Phoenix Arizona and joined the Institute for Bone and Joint Disorders later developing the Hedley Orthopedic Institute. He performed thousands of hip and knee replacements until his retirement last year. He was a master technician and loved by his patients for his kindness and compassion.
Throughout his career, Dr Hedley was a researcher, implant designer, internationally recognized speaker, and beloved teacher. He received numerous awards and honors including the Otto Aufranc and John Charnley award from the Hip Society. He trained 70 fellows who revere "the Boss" for the knowledge, skills, compassion, and humanism that he imparted to them.
He brightened every room he entered with his infectious smile and fabulous sense of humor.
His motto was to "always do my best."
Tony was an avid fisherman, hunter, and aviary expert. He holds three world record fish catches. He was an avid reader and loved his daily crossword puzzles. Tony loved spending time with his family in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and Soldotna, Alaska where they fished together on the Kenai. They opened a fishing lodge there on the river where they enjoyed summers together.
He is survived by 2 adult children from a prior marriage, Damian and Lisa, his 3 grandchildren, Benjamin, Graydon, and Holdon, his wife of 20 years, Jennifer, and their 3 children Alexis, Jackson, and Kate Olivia.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 24, 2021 at Saint Theresa Catholic Church, 5045 E. Thomas Road, Phoenix at 10:40 AM. Please be seated by 10:30 AM if attending.
A Youtube link is available for those unable to attend:
https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCp3WzQ513Qzu4-NSx7atMfw
Condolences may be expressed at www.whitneymurphyfuneralhome.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Anthony Hedley
Sponsored by Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home.
Cynthia Rennolds
April 16, 2024
Ever so grateful gor your amazing talents and expertise. That hip is still going strong 22 years later thanks to some fast acting on the fly creation while in surgery. The hip you had made would not fit correctly and you on the fly made a new one. Truly an extraordinary surgeon. God bless his friends and family.
Cynthia Rennolds
August 13, 2022
My deepest sympathies to Dr. Headley´s family and friends. He was a wonderful doctor and a kind and generous human being. May he Rest In Peace.
Pat Hoover
June 28, 2022
Found out today you went on to a new place to spread joy and kindness. Thank you for the excellent care you gave me and many others replacing our knees and hips with the utmost care and precision. It was a pleasure to know you!
Lisa Nuels
May 21, 2022
Deepest condolences to the family of a true hero!!! Both of my hips are blessed.
Allen Brown
November 4, 2021
Like many, I just found out after calling his office for an appointment that Dr. Hedley had passed away.
He was a compassionate and wonderful, if not the very best, joint replacement surgeon. He will be missed and remembered with fondness for many years.
Douglas La Mantia
October 25, 2021
I just found out about Dr Hedley. He was my doctor for 30 + years doing 3 or 4 revisions. He made you feel like family even when I didnt see him for a decade. Aloha my friend!
Denise
July 13, 2021
I just found out today that Dr. Hedley had passed away and I cried. He was a wonderful doctor. He replaced both of my hips and both knees.He called me the Bionic woman. I´am so lucky to have the pleasure to have known him. Rip Dr. Hedley
Kay Ball, PhD, RN, CNOR, CMLSO, FAAN
May 11, 2021
You will be greatly missed. Thanks for all of your help with getting surgical team members to evacuate surgical smoke. And thanks for meeting my husband and me in Phoenix in January 2019 to talk about surgical smoke hazards. You will be remembered forever!
Ash Shaalan
May 5, 2021
He had so many gifts from my perspective: an infectious smile, a great sense of humor, incredible intellect and a way with words that made complex issues seem very simple. He was a natural leader with great orthopaedic knowledge and hands like no other, not to mention a cool South African accent. In this case, Billy Joel was right: “Only the good die young”. RIP Tony!
Elizabeth Nejdl
May 4, 2021
When I moved to Az in 1992 with a complex knee issue I was told in Chicago that the very finest Dr above all for my issues was in Az. During these years he has done all possible to keep me walking with multiple surgeries. His warmth ,kindness, humor, frankness and expertise will be greatly missed. To his family I am so sorry for your loss.
Priscilla Monahan
May 4, 2021
I’m so saddened to hear we lost one of the greatest doctors in the world. He was a confident genius. I feel honored and blessed he did my knee replacement. He is the only doctor in Arizona that would remove the rod and pens in my legs from a prior accident, and then do knee replacement in one surgery, all the other doctors said there had to be 2 surgeries, a Year apart. He was first class and a gift from above. My heart goes out to his wife, children and grandchildren, for your tremendous loss. My heart and prayers are with you. So deeply saddened!
Dale DeValk
April 24, 2021
Dr. Hedley replaced my hip joint in 2010 and prior to the surgery I asked him what was the make of the saw that he used to remove the hip. He told me “It’s a Black and Decker” I told him that I owned one of those and know what it sounds like so I did not want to hear it during the procedure. His first visit after surgery he asked me if I heard the saw. Of course I didn’t and we had a chuckle about that. He was a great person and a superior surgeon. RIP you have a great legacy for others to follow
April 23, 2021
In loving memory of a wonderful person. We will love you and miss you always.
Kelly Hundelt
April 22, 2021
Tony Hedley was a remarkable man, both personally and professionally. I don't know anyone who has led a more fulfilling and successful life than Tony. He accomplished SO MUCH in his mere 77 years. For such a renown man, he was incredibly down to earth - always smiling, welcoming, kind and generous. I consider my family extremely blessed to have shared so many good times with Tony and his family. He will be missed and fondly remembered. Rest in peace, Tony! The Hundelts
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