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BLAKE CADY Obituary

CADY, Blake, MD Blake Cady, MD, died on July 15, 2023. He was the second son of Capt. John Parmalee Cady, USN, and Elizabeth Blake Cady, and was educated at Moses Brown School in Providence, RI, Amherst College, and Cornell University Medical College. He served in the Navy before finishing a surgical training at the New England Deaconess Hospital Harvard Surgical Service and a surgical oncology fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He joined the surgical staff of the Lahey Clinic Foundation and Harvard Medical School in 1967. In 1982, he became Chief of Surgical Oncology and full-time member of the Harvard surgical faculty at New England Deaconess Hospital. He was appointed Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School in 1991. At retirement, he joined the surgical faculty of Brown University Medical School, as Professor of Surgery. He was the author of over 300 publications, book chapters, and other peer reviewed articles, and founding editor of the Surgical Oncology Clinics of North America. He has been honored by election as president of both national and significant regional organizations, including the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Cancer Society, the Boston Surgical Society, the New England Surgical Society, the New England Cancer Society (NECS), the American Association of Endocrine Surgery, and the Society of Surgical Oncology. He was mentor to and changed the life of many in the field of surgical oncology and public health. Known for his urbane intellect, he constantly stimulated thoughtful analysis and challenged many conventional ideas. Various awards included the Shattuck Medal of the MA Public Health Association, the Chadwick Medal of the MA Thoracic Society, the Annual Division award and the National Distinguished Service Award, both from the American Cancer Society, all related to efforts in tobacco control. Honorary lecture awards included the Haynes Martin Lecture of the Head and Neck Surgeons, the Annual Oncology lecture of the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons, the presidential Award of the NECS, the Annual Heritage Award of the Society of Surgical Society, the annual Inspiration Award of the National Consortium of Breast Centers, and the annual "Make Smoking History" award of the MA Department of Public Health. He was a Surgical Consultant at the Uganda Cancer Institute in Kampala and gave many lectures and speeches about surgical oncology, both here and abroad. Outside interests included skiing and sailing with family and friends. Membership in the Cruising Club of America recognized many sailing trips to Newfoundland, Labrador, Nova Scotia in his innovative cat-ketch "Woebegone Daze" and deep water sailing to Bermuda and trans-Atlantic. He was an early adopter of efforts to address Climate Change, with Solar PV for electricity, hot water and electric cars. His beloved wife, Dorothy, and children from a previous marriage to Elizabeth W. Cady survive him, Brian of Whately MA, Suzanne Stapleton and her husband Michael of Gainesville FL, and Pamela of Arlington, MA; and grandchildren, Nathanial and Benjamin of Gainesville, FL. Donations, instead of flowers, may be made to: American Forests, Arnold Arboretum, Conservation Law Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, or the Greater Boston Food Bank.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Boston Globe from Jul. 17 to Jul. 23, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for BLAKE CADY

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Alex Morris

December 18, 2024

I well recall young Blake as my shipmate in icebreaker USSS Edisto in Boston. I attended his first marriage there. We last spoke about 1990 during a ship reunion.

ALEXANDER MORRIS

March 18, 2024

I always remember Blake as my fine Navy shipmate in USS Edisto Island in 1960.May he est in peace.

Shirley (Brauneis) Hutchins

March 1, 2024

To all of Blake's family--I am so sorry for your loss. I just learned of his passing today from friends. I worked for him at Lahey Clinic as his secretary from 1968 to 1975, after which I transferred to Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at Lahey. I remember his trip to Kampala, Uganda with his family and nurse a long with Dr. Watkins and the Watkins' Chronofuser for treatment of Burkitt's lymphoma. He was a very brilliant surgeon, and he was the first doctor I worked for when I started working the Clinic. I learned a lot during that time.

Amy Stubblefield

October 3, 2023

In storms, Blake was calm and unafraid. A kind and gentle man.May he find peace.

Barbara Mishkin

September 5, 2023

Sincere condolences to Dorothy and extended family for your profound loss. With regards, Barbara Marie Hyduk Mishkin.

Kellye Gilley

August 18, 2023

Sending many prayers & much sympathy. Dr. Cady was the first supervisor I had when I came to RI in 2001. He was such a gentleman and always very professional and kind. He was absolutely brilliant and enjoyed explaining cases and teaching. I can´t imagine the hold he leaves in everyone´s lives.

Suzanne Cady Stapleton

August 12, 2023

Suzanne Cady Stapleton

August 12, 2023

Suzanne Cady Stapleton

August 12, 2023

One proud moment: here he is as president of the Mass. Chapter of the American Cancer Society in 1992 with Candace Pierce, celebrating the hard work of so many to pass a cigarette tax to fund health education. He is missed so very much. Thank you for sharing your thoughts & memories.

William B Inabnet III, MD, MHA

August 9, 2023

As an out-of-state 4th year medical student from the University of NC at Chapel Hill, I met Dr. Cady when I completed an externship at the Deaconess in Boston. During the 4 week rotation, Dr. Cady treated me with the utmost respect and kindness. During my endocrine surgery fellowship in France 6 years later, I sent a letter to several dozen US academic programs looking for my first faculty position. Dr. Cady was the only person to reply - he wrote me a hand written note listing several opportunities he was aware of. I will always cherish his genuine kindness and will strive to pay it forward. William B Inabnet III, Endowed Chair and Professor of Surgery, University of Kentucky College of Medicine.

Suzanne Scalise

August 1, 2023

Suzanne so sorry to hear of the death of your dad.

Sylvia M Buchanan Quatrale

July 26, 2023

Condolences to all of you. Dr Cady had a major impact on my career; he taught me how to use the Harvard Pump to take care of his patient when was a nursing student and then had me present the case study. He was always in the forefront of knowledge. He will be missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him

Robert Perkins

July 24, 2023

Dear Family of Blake Cady,
I met Blake in 1992 while my partner
Irene Goodale was making her journey through breast cancer. Blake was her surgeon.... and an unusual one at that.
He never operated, but explained to this young couple that taking lymph nodes out was more for a study than help to the patient. The side effects can be awful. He said go through the treatments and then spend a year doing whatever you want.

We did just that, not knowing a deeper knowing that Blake understood....we had two years of treatment, and a joyous year in remission. Rene´s cancer returned just after we married, and she succumbed four months later.

We were devoted to Blake, and only grew to appreciate his words and dry humor. My written account is in the book Talking To Angels published by Beacon Press.

I´m sorry he´s gone. He´s sailing toward different horizons today.
Sincerely, Robert Perkins

Kim Ozaki

July 23, 2023

As a nurse at the NEDH I had the pleasure of meeting and working with Dr. Cady. Always a gentleman and a professional he was a wonderful Doctor. I happened to live in the same neighborhood many years later with Blake and Dorothy and witnessed their commitment to the environment and being proactive to saving the planet! Amazing one of a kind Man. Happy to have known Dr. Blake Cady

RICHARD WONG

July 23, 2023

WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR HIS DRY WIT, IRREVERENCE, ORIGINAL MEDICAL IDEAS AND FRIENDSHIP
THE WONGS, PROVIDENCE, RI

Single Memorial Tree

A neighbor from Brookline

Planted Trees

Ginny

July 23, 2023

Condolences to the whole family at this sad time. What a wonderful father and doctor and adventurer and neighbor,

I think of him confidently buckling me into a spinaker harness and waving me off to sail above the Cape waters, wandering into his ordered home office where a zoo of striped and spotted beast statues peeped from his shelves and photos of his adventures hung beside them. If I stayed the night I could end up going to a "flick" and most definitely eating crepes sprinkled with powdered sugar for breakfast, both of which he loved. So many happy memories with your dear father and grandfather. Many years later I remember my relief (not least that he was my surgeon) but that he thought wearing iPods while he performed it was a terrific idea. I am so sorry to hear this sad news.
Ginny Chapman Cochran

WFM lll

July 21, 2023

Almost 40 years ago Dr Cady was my mother's oncologist. He was kind,
Brilliant, supportive and everything else a great physician should be. When another group of doctor's told has that she had a very short life expectancy Dr. Cady said no, she does not need the invasive treatment contemplated. He was has Dr and she loved him and was grateful to him until her dying day some 25 years later, not from cancer but from dementia. Thank you Dr Cady on behalf of my beloved mom Kay Mc...sincerest condolences to the family on the passing of a great man....

Nancy Bower

July 20, 2023

I am writing for my Best Friend who worked for and with Dr. Cady at Lahey Clinic in Boston.
She worked with him in setting up the Oncology Dept. Her name at the time was Mary MacLeod. She told me stories of Dr. Cady, his work and how wonderful he was to work at the Clinic with him.
Nancy Bower
Parsonsfield, me.

Marian Ross

July 18, 2023

My Dearest Dorothy ..Pam ...Suzanne and Brian ...I was given a gift when Blake came into my life..his kindness demonstrated thru friendship set a bar to rise up too..He was a teacher to me and his loss is another crack inall of our hearts ..I´ll miss the banter we shared teasing Dorothy ...Marian

Dave Madigan

July 18, 2023

Dr. Cady performed my neck and throat surgries in 1989 and I never forget about him. Eternal Rest and god Bless.

Kathie merageas

July 18, 2023

I had the privilege to know and work with the finest surgeon, a great man and a fantastic friend. To his dear family, my sincere sympathy. Many memories.
Sincerely, Kathie Merageas

Dick George 101st Airborne Division

July 18, 2023

Requiescat in pace amica meus! Ave at que vale!

Hugh Mattison, Brookline

July 18, 2023

High Street Hill, known as Pill Hill, in Brookline, has lost a leader. Blake often discussed his interest in his solar hot water system, and how to arrange installation that would conform to local historic district guidelines. We'll miss his intellect.

XAbier de Aretxabala

July 17, 2023

Dear family, my deepest condolences to you.
I had the privilege of knowing him as a guest scholar of the American College of Surgeons. At that time, I was at his house and even went sailing with him. I also met him in my country (Chile).
I have the best memories of him.

with deepest sympathy

Xabier de Aretxabala MD

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