RICHARD WRIGHT HUFF – Loving husband, father, grandfather and friend
Richard Wright Huff, Sr., DVM of Birmingham, Michigan passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 22, 2021 at the Baldwin House. He was 90 years old.
Dr. Huff was born in 1930 in Detroit to Sidney Wright Huff and Marian (Garlick) Huff. He was an Eagle Scout, and attended Redford High where he was the captain of the football team. He enrolled at Albion College for two years, completed his undergraduate studies at University of Detroit, and was accepted to Michigan State University (MSU) School of Veterinary Medicine. He graduated from MSU summa cum laude and second in his class. He met his wife, Michaleen Telep, a student at MSU, and they were married in 1956. After vet school Dick and his new bride went to Boston for a 15 month internship at Angell Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston. They returned to Michigan to be near family while they raised three children.
In Michigan, Dr. Huff began his professional career at Gasow Veterinary Hospital. In 1977 he founded the Beverly Hills Veterinary Clinic with Dr. Lance Adams, practicing there until his retirement in 1998.
Dr. Huff had an extraordinarily distinguished career. He specialized not only in small animal care, but also ophthalmology, breeding, and surgery. He has numerous inventions and his list of awards and achievements are too long to repeat here. Some of the highlights include: President of the Michigan Veterinary Medical Association, President of the American Society of Veterinary Ophthalmologists, Albion College Distinguished Alumni Award, MSU School of Veterinary Medicine Distinguished Alumni Award, and the Charles Bild Award, presented by the American Animal Hospital Association, as practitioner of the year for North America in 1983.
He also served as an expert witness in the King Boots trial, where an Old English Sheepdog was charged with murder.
Dr. Huff was just as busy outside of his professional life. He enjoyed snow skiing, taking his family all over North America for yearly trips. He also played tennis, softball and water skied. He traveled around the world, making new veterinarian friends in several countries. He was interested in genealogy, tracing the Huff family roots back to 1657. His zest for life was contagious to all of those around him.
His favorite place of all was his family cottage at Bruce Beach, on the shores of Lake Huron in Canada. Built by his parents in 1929, Dr. Huff spent his summers there throughout his life. As a boy he and his father cleared the land to create the Huff-Clark ball diamond, where softball is played by cottage owners and guests throughout the summer. The field is dedicated to Dr. Huff’s father. His love of Bruce Beach was manifested in the numerous trees he planted over the years, leading to an arboretum designation for the area around the ballfield. Dr. Huff’s eagerness to get to Bruce Beach as often as possible led to more than a few “meetings” with various Michigan police officers as he raced to the Canadian border in his red Porsche.
He is preceded in death by his parents and daughter-in-law, Sue Moulden Huff. He is survived by his first wife and mother of his children, Michaleen Huff of Troy, MI, sister Nancy Huff Allen of Bloomfield Hills, his three children: Janice Huff, MD (Stephen Ezzo, MD) of Charlotte, NC; Richard Wright Huff Jr of Larkspur, CO; and Linda Ann LaBelle (Richard) of Riverside, IL. He is also survived by his two granddaughters: Jacqueline Ann LaBelle of Anchorage, AK, Nicole Ann LaBelle of Chicago and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
There are countless animals and their owners whose lives were touched by Dr. Huff’s medical expertise, compassion and generosity. He approached all aspects of his life to the fullest, and set an example for those closest to him to celebrate each day and learn from it. He gave a voice to our cherished companions and treated them as members of his own family.
Due to current COVID-19 regulations, a memorial service will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations be made to Trees in Memory through the Arbor Day Foundation. To donate Trees in Memory visit TREES IN MEMORY HYPERLINK and Order and Ship a Printed Card, Select one of the National Forests for trees to be planted in and follow the instructions to complete your donation.
As an alternative, please consider a donation to the Pine River Watershed Initiative Network in Ontario, Canada Pine River Watershed Website or any dog/cat charity of your choice.
~Lovingly Submitted by the Family~