Hugh F. Haegelin

Hugh was born Nov. 5, 1933, to parents Hugh Francis and Mariana Haegelin in Los Angeles. In his teen years, he attended Southwestern Military Academy and graduated from Loyola High School in 1951. He continued his education by completing his bachelor of science degree in 1955 and medical doctor degree in 1959, both at the University of California-Los Angeles. His fellowship in internal medicine was completed at Cornell University, Bellevue Hospital, N.Y., followed by residencies in internal medicine and infectious diseases at UCLA.

In 1959 Hugh married Mary Jane Prior, and together they raised three children, Mark, Christi and Noel. Mary Jane later died of cancer. Between 1962 and 1964, the family moved to Oklahoma, where Hugh served as captain in the U.S. Air Force. Haegelin began his private practice in 1965, when responding to a call for a pulmonologist to join a dynamic cardiac surgery program in San Bernardino, Calif.

For the next 28 years he provided medical leadership at St. Bernardine Medical Center, where he developed a respiratory therapy pulmonary functions lab, arterial blood gas draws, developed protocols guiding intubation by respiratory therapists and developed and directed outpatient bronchoscopy procedures. As medical director of the intensive care unit, he assisted with the critical care nursing education program. He designed, implemented and was medical director of cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation. Later he did the same for the occupational health service. Dr. Haegelin was board certified in internal medicine, pulmonary disease, critical care medicine and occupational health medicine. In honor of his mother, who was born in Mexico, Dr. Haegelin established a professional mentorship program for Hispanic high school students.

Hugh married Gloria Sandberg in 1983 and continued his private medical practice in San Bernardino before moving to Clarkston in December 1993. Between 1993 and 2014, Dr. Haegelin practiced internal medicine at Valley Medical Center in Lewiston. Together, Hugh and Gloria raised their grandson Justin Haegelin in Clarkston, who loved swimming and influenced Hugh and Gloria to become actively involved in bringing the Asotin County Family Aquatic Center to fruition. For many years, they housed foreign students, including high school exchange student Federico and several of Kai Fong's Lewis-Clark State College tennis players, including Hephzi, Maria, Kevin and Elaine. Hugh also established a scholarship for Hispanic students at LCSC.

Hugh loved to play tennis, golf, snow skiing (especially annual Colorado trips for 25 years with Frank, Bill and Jackie and Charles), running marathons, and he greatly appreciated his tennis playing friends. He traveled extensively, including trips to Europe, Africa, South America, Central America and Asia with Gloria and friends, Tom and Patty.

While at Valley Medical Center, Dr. Haegelin served on the Critical Care Committee at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, invited Spokane Cardiology to open a practice in Lewiston and encouraged St. Joe's to open a cardiac cath lab. He was very fond of his patients and colleagues, especially his nurse, Catherine, and colleague Melanie.

In 1998, while visiting in California, Dr. Haegelin came face to face for the first time with his own mortality. Arriving home after a run, he suddenly fell with "sudden death syndrome," a condition that had taken his mother's life at the same age. Fortunately, Dr. Haegelin survived with CPR and open heart surgery. Years later, an implanted cardiac defibrillator saved his life a second time. In 1999, he was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, which certainly justified early retirement, but because of his love for his patients and love for being a physician, he continued being a doctor for 15 more years, refusing to surrender to his devastating medical issues by fighting back with rigorous daily exercise. His goal was to practice medicine as long as his health allowed him to, and he did so until three months before his passing. His commitment to medical study never ended; he dedicated himself to providing quality experiences for his dear patients. It was rheumatoid arthritis that caused rheumatoid lung disease that would ultimately end his life.

Hugh is survived by his beloved wife, Gloria; children Mark Haegelin, Christa (husband, David Osuna) and Noel Henson; grandchildren Justin, Nicolas and Jacqueline; and two great-grandchildren, Jayden and Jason. He is also survived by his black cat, Negrito, who was a constant companion at his side.

Hugh's earthy sense of humor, caring nature, wisdom, acumen, uncanny memory, voracious passion for acquiring knowledge and his willingness to share his understanding of medicine and history will be greatly missed by his family, associates and friends.

The family is following Hugh's wishes not to have a funeral service. In lieu of sending flowers or gifts, please make donations in his name to the LCSC tennis program or to the LCSC Hispanic Scholarship Fund. The family also requests people please visit: www.caringbridge.org/visit/hughhaegelin where they may click on "Guestbook" to share stories, memories and condolences.