Ronald Hay, our loving and amazing husband, father, grandfather, and brother passed away peacefully December 6, surrounded by his devoted and supportive family. Ron fought a long and courageous battle with Bronchiectasis, a rare complication of rheumatoid arthritis. This disease took his life but it never took his heart, mind and soul; he kept his optimism, good humor, love of life, dedication to his patients, and the joy he found with family and friends.
Ron was born in Annapolis, Maryland, to Alexander and Betty Hay and was the brother to Sandra and Christopher. Growing up he lived in many exciting cities including Honolulu, San Diego, New Orleans, Beverly Hills and San Francisco; thus spurring his enthusiasm for travel and adventure.
Ron enjoyed his school days at Stuart Hall in San Francisco and Loyola in Los Angeles, where he lettered in Varsity Track and Field. As a pre-med undergraduate at the University of Southern California he was an active member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. It was at USC that he met his life long love and future wife, Leslie. Ron was a loyal Trojan supporter his whole life. As a season ticket holder he watched countless football games with family and friends.
After graduating with honors from USC, he attended medical school at Georgetown University. It was there that he published an important public health document and graduated with honors. His Orthopedic residency was completed at the University of California, Irvine and his hand fellowship training at Harper Grace Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. He was Board certified in both Orthopedic Surgery and Hand Surgery. He was a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery, American Society for Surgery of the Hand, California Medical Association, Santa Clara Valley Medical Association, and State Medical Board of Ethics. He was on the medical staff at El Camino Hospital where he once served as the Chairman of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery. He began his practice at Sunnyvale Medical Clinic in 1980 and helped it grow to become a part of the acclaimed Palo Alto Medical Foundation. He once served as the Chair of the Orthopedic Department at both El Camino Hospital and the clinic. There he established the Hand department, called the "Hand Team."
Throughout his accomplished career he remained a humble and dedicated doctor. He derived his greatest professional joys from the caring for individual patients, enjoying conversations with his patients, consultations with his fellow doctors, the camaraderie with nurses and staff and mentoring aspiring medical students. On June 26, 2015, the Ronald S. Hay Hand Surgery Center was established and named in honor of his dedication to the discipline of medicine, for the many lives he improved, and for those he taught and inspired.
A close, loving, and supportive family was his proudest accomplishment. For 44 years, Ron and his wife, Leslie, were happily married and deeply in love. They were blessed with three beautiful and devoted daughters, Jenny, Erin and Kelly. Ron never missed the opportunity to enjoy his family and show his love. He was enthusiastically involved in his children's activities, family vacations, the surprise birthday parties he planned for his wife, and all the joys of life's celebrations. Among those joys were the addition to his family of his sons-in-law, Steven and Okan, and the birth of his three darling grandchildren, Hayden, Delaney and Teo. He also felt fortunate that he had loving nieces and nephews.
Friends were an important part of his life, and he had many. He always gladly shared his home, life, food and wine. With friends and family he shared his love of surfing, golfing, world travel, bridge, sailing, Trojan football, gardening, fine dining and appreciation of the fine arts.
The Family thanks his caring staff and doctors at El Camino Hospital, his supportive doctors at PAMF, particularly Dr. Carol Kemper and Dr. Steven Carlson, his kind and loving friends and his helpful and encouraging sister-in-law, Mary.
He will always be remembered as the quintessential physician, husband, father, and friend. He was humble, patient, knowledgeable, and strong. His integrity was impeccable, his kindness was boundless, his enthusiasm was limitless, and his love is endless. He and his zest for life will be greatly missed by many.
A Celebration of Life will be held on FEBRUARY 13 at LOS ALTO UNITED METHODIST CHURCH at 2:00 RECEPTION IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING