RUFUS KEENE BROADAWAY

Rufus Keene Broadaway passed away on September 1st, 2016 at Oak Hammock in Gainesville, FL. He was born in Jackson MS on September 22, 1920 to Joseph Ernest Broadaway and Eva Ruth Keene. He began college at Mississippi College but WWII interrupted his studies for over five years for active duty service. He was proud to be 82nd Airborne, parachute infantry. He achieved the rank of Captain. He parachuted into Normandy on D-Day, fought the battle of La Fiere Causeway and participated in Operation Market Garden. Rufus became Aide-de-Camp to General James Gavin, whom he greatly admired.

During the war, Rufus married Marion Dempsey on July 13, 1942. They recently celebrated their 74th anniversary!

After the war, Rufus graduated from Tufts College in 1946 and then Harvard Medical School in 1950. He did residencies at Columbia Presbyterian in New York and Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown. In 1955, he moved his family (now with 3 children) to Miami, FL to help as an Instructor and then Professor of surgery at the University of Miami School of Medicine. He practiced medicine in many hospitals in Miami but became a Founding Member, Chief of Surgery, President of the Medical Staff and Senior Vice President at Cedars Hospital over the years. He was heavily involved with the Dade County Medical Association and The Florida Medical Association. He was a Member of the Board of Trustees of the American Medical Association. He worked for the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare over the latter part of his medical career. He was a national and international consultant. He was also a Registered Parliamentarian and led many classes on "How to Run a Meeting."

His interests were many. His daily runs eventually extended to marathons into his sixties, including the Boston Marathon. He also loved photography, set up a modest darkroom at home and was proud to have studied under Ansel Adams. He and Marion loved backpacking and traveling. They trekked to the base camp of Mt. Everest in 1980 and walked across England.

His spiritual faith was also long and deep. He was raised Southern Baptist (and his mother had hoped he would be a Baptist preacher!) He and Marion attended Riviera Presbyterian Church in South Miami for nearly 40 years. He and Marion took in seven Cuban refugee children during the early 1960's. They were also members of Highlands Presbyterian Church in Highlands, NC and then First Presbyterian Church in Gainesville.

In 2004, he and Marion moved to Oak Hammock retirement community. They loved the emphasis on keeping the mind and body active. Rufus continued his pursuit of excellence at Oak Hammock, becoming President of the PCA (the member led association).

Rufus always said he had had an amazing life and he was one of the luckiest people he knew. His smile was broad and he loved to laugh.

He was preceded in death by his parents and daughter, Judith Evelyn Broadaway. He is survived by wife, Marion, sister, Evelyn Jones, son, Dana Broadaway (Rebecca), and daughter, Rebecca Adkins (Andrew). Also four grandchildren of whom he was very proud and two great grandsons.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to a worthy charity of one's choice.

Love deeply, help others and laugh often.

A Celebration of Life is planned for Thursday October 6th, 2016 at 4:30 pm at Oak Hammock in the Oak Room