Hazle Konerding M.D.

1947 - 2024

KONERDING, M.D., Hazle (Smith), 76, entered eternal rest on June 17, 2024. She was born in Fairbanks, AK, on October 18, 1947, where her parents, Dewey S. and Evalyn M. Smith were civilian employees of the Army during the early Cold War years, developing Ladd Army Air Field. In 1955, the family moved to Fort Walton Beach, FL, where her father continued his civil engineer profession building more runways, this time at Eglin Air Force Base. She graduated from Choctawhatchee High School in 1965. She attended Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, and after graduation in 1969, attended the University of Miami School of Medicine, graduating with honors in 1973. Following an internship at the Florida Hospital in Orlando, she completed her Dermatology residency at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond in 1977. She was Assistant Professor of Dermatology at MCV for three years before beginning private practice in Richmond as Founding Partner and President of Commonwealth Dermatology, a position she held until her retirement in 2021. To her patients she was a beloved, compassionate and trusted healer; she loved her patients with all her heart and they returned that love many times over.

Hazle became a physician in an era when few women chose to enter medicine, much less seek leadership positions. She was one of only 11 women in her medical school class at UM. Dr. Konerding was active in organized medicine and a strong leader on the local, state, and national level for more than four decades. She was a member and also past President of the Medical Society of Virginia, the Richmond Academy of Medicine, the Virginia Dermatological Society, and the Richmond Dermatological Society, and remained in leadership and advisory positions in these organizations until her passing. She served multiple terms as an MSV Delegate to the American Medical Association. As a member of the American Academy of Dermatology she was Chair of SKINpac, its national lobbying organization. She also served on the Boards of Directors of Access Now, the MSV Insurance Agency, Bon Secours Richmond Health System and the Henricus Foundation. At the time of her death, she was President of West Richmond Rotary Club. She was a member of the Country Club of Virginia, Yankee Point Yacht Club (Lancaster County), Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Richmond Woman's Club. She was a long-time member of All Saints Episcopal Church, serving on the Vestry, Altar Guild, and Choir and as an Episcopal Lay Minister.

Hazle was known to all for her impeccable sense of style and her almost endless collection of shoes. She was a fiercely loyal friend who maintained close and loving ties with her bridge club friends from her first days in Richmond until her passing. In addition to bridge, she enjoyed collecting oyster plates, Japanese netsukes, scrimshaw and other decorative items. She was an insatiable reader of murder mysteries. She had a passion for traveling the world, setting foot in over 80 countries and all seven continents as well as cruising all seven seas. Her skills as a gourmet chef were unsurpassed and an invitation to partake of a meal she cooked was never refused.

Hazle is survived by her husband of 55 years, Karsten F. Konerding, M.D., whom she met when he served breakfast to her in her freshman dormitory at Northwestern (he, obviously, was smitten!). She is also survived by her daughters, Julia K. Padgett, M.D. (A. Vaden Padgett, M.D.), of Goochland, and Linda K. Montgomery, J.D., M.H.A., of Charlotte, N.C.; and her grandchildren, A. Vaden Padgett II, Anna Grace Padgett, Caroline Louise Montgomery and Charles Otto Montgomery; and her brothers-in-law, Erhard F. Konerding (llana), of Middletown, CT, Dr. Med. Achim Konerding (Gabrielle), of Seesen, Germany, and Dr. Med. Jurgen Konerding (Susanne), of Gottingen, Germany.

Her greatest joy in life was her family and close circle of dearest friends. She was an inspiration to her daughters, who learned from her that a woman did not have to choose between motherhood and professional success, nor take a back row seat when told that girls just didn't belong in leadership. To her grandchildren she was the most supportive and loving grandmother there could be. We will all miss her deeply, she was the bedrock and foundation of our family. She will remain an inspiration to succeeding generations even in her absence, her example a guiding light.

A memorial service will be held at All Saints Episcopal Church on Friday, June 28, at 11 a.m., followed by a reception at The Country Club of Virginia Westhampton clubhouse. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Medical Society of Virginia Foundation, 2924 Emerywood Parkway, Henrico, VA, 23294; Access Now, 2821 Emerywood Parkway, Henrico, VA, 23294; or All Saints Episcopal Church, 8787 River Road, Henrico, VA, 23229.