Thanks for the reminder of Pat Healy. Always a smile; always a heart of infinite capacity for us all. My mother, Annie Nelson, remembers Pat, and John and family, too, especially seeing a photo of the group. Their generation was so fine!
Eric Nelson

Ahhhh, Speedball, I can hardly believe you've been gone this long, but then again the best of you has never left. It is present in the stellar kids you raised---both your own and half the neighborhood's. You are present in all the lives you touched because you didn't simply pass through, you became a part of all of us. You cared enough to comfort us and respected us enough to crack the whip and you had an unerring sense of which to do when. You had a big smile, a giant laugh and an enormous heart. The sadness has passed but the joy, the gratitude and the love remain behind. Thanks Speed; enjoy your rest and know that you live on.  Much Love, Tiger and Family

Thanks for all the memories Pat. You are such a shining star in my life.
Love Eric

Thank you Pat, for being so fun, kind, inclusive, generous and more. They sum up to great acts of kindness, big and small. You knew so much about how to relate to people; I learned some of that from you, and that is why I am a lucky guy.  Eric

Here’s some family history to remember Pat's wonderful influence on all of us. When Patricia Rust married John Healy, she married into the welcoming arms and hearts of the Hodgson family. John was one of two sons (George) of Elmina Genevieve Hodgson (Russell) Healy. Genevieve was the youngest of 10 children of Thomas Corrin Hodgson and Eliza (Clague) Hodgson, married in 1868, both immigrants from the Isle of Man, England. John Healy had 22 Hodgson cousins, including some names you know, such as Corrin, Muriel (Aunt Deed) and Harold “Bud” Nelson, my sister Susan’s and my Dad. I am so fortunate to have grown up in Madison with the Pat, John, Diane, Alison, Bennett, and Brian as part of the Hodgson clan. The speed of Pat was such a huge addition to making the family of Hodgson strong and somehow bigger than life. Ah, those family memories: huge, inclusive Thanksgiving dinners at the Healy’s; big tall swings; summers at the lake cabin; Pat and John’s travel adventures; and, of course all Pat’s hugs and kisses. I have added a few photos from an album titled, “Hodgsons: 3 Generations,” compiled in 1983 by Bud and Ann Nelson that chronicles that family through John’s generation. Genevieve and family reunions are included. Eric.

Perhaps the best testament to Speedball is to look at the stellar extended family she raised. I say extended because she included so many of us kids, always warmly, into her embrace. She was a woman of endless humor, bottomless love, grace and humility. She accepted us all as kids and adults without reservation or conditions. We were all so lucky to have several great mothers in that OR, Ridgewood, ORUCC, Tyrol Basin bunch. We loved you then and always will, Speedball!

Pat was a very special person in my life who also happened to be my aunt. My memories go way back to being a kid visiting the Healy clan in Madison or up north. Speed and Doc were always happy to have us around and made our time with them fun and memorable. Big hugs and wet smooches were always part of the greeting. They both continued to be part of my life thru school, work and now retirement. We had great times at the farm. One of my best trips was to Belize in 1978. Endless days of fishing and snorkeling.I still remember drinking all the hooch in our morning coffee on the day we left because we couldn't take it with us. When I think of Pat, I always have a little smile and fond memories. I will miss her.

Only last summer by Mac's pool, I had a heart to heart with Speed about what was it like courting her future husband. What were the rules and guide lines of that time. It was so interesting......However, it was the wonderful way she treated my daughter Tia, that I will never forget, sort of like another grandchild. She always called Tia Sweetie,and Tia would always like going to the Healy house because there was so much love.

Granny Pat never wasted a day. Her positive approach to life, sense of humor, wisdom, and love for her family has always been inspirational to me. Those traits I try to infuse in my own life and carry on that spirit. She passed along an amazing family that truly makes this world a better place, I feel very lucky to be a part of it. I have so many wonderful memories of Granny holding court with her big smile, she lit up the room no matter what the situation was. I am so very sad, but proud to be her grandson and hopeful I can carry on a little of that Speedball energy. It makes me happy to know her and Grandpa John are together again....probably off traveling somewhere or arguing about politics :) Love you forever Granny!  Jeff

It was a great neighborhood and Pat Healy welcomed the kids with open arms with her non-judgmental acceptance. I was forever touched by her warmth and humor. She inspired love and enthusiasm and taught me acceptance, confidence and forgiveness and left me feeling always that everything was OK with the world. She made me feel special.
It is a little less bright in the world today.

Pat was a great traveler. We first met her with the Madison Ski Club on many western trips. We were partners with Pat and John on a tour of the Galapagos Islands We were on a small boat so landed on lots of islands. Another adventure with them was to Nicaragua where we stayed at a resort that John's Dr. friend from San Jose was a partner in building.The lodge was pretty well done, but the swimming pool was not even a hole in the ground. So Pat and Betty were not too pleased. Nevertheless we had a great time and went on to tour the high country of Costa Rica. Pat never lost her smile. What a wonderful travelling companion!

Who is credited with coining the Speedball name? What could be more appropriate for this beautiful, energetic, funny, witty, smoking hot ball of fire?! I remember trying to call her Pat once. I nearly choked! It just didn't personify her contagious, warm, multi-dimensional presence the way Speedball does! To the entire family, I am so sorry for your loss and the hole you're feeling right now. Fill that hole with her love for you and for life!

Pat was always welcoming to the local neighborhood kids but was especially welcoming to me. I will always think of “Speed” as my second mother. The woman who took care of me while out at the farm or up north at the cabin. I was always found of her egg salad sandwiches she would make me for lunch. She was always the woman with a smile and good nature but strict with us when it was needed. I think the maddest I ever saw her was when Ben and I were goofing with a bb gun and we shot one of Brian’s friend in the head. Oh, was she mad at us for few days but we got back in her good graces. She was always a hard worker and instilled/expected a hard work effort in others. Another one of her great qualities was her acceptance of others. She was never one to pre-judge someone.
  We had many great trips together that I will never forget. There were a couple of ski trips to Europe and I was lucky enough to join the crew on the Bob Marshall horse trip to name just a few.
  Later in life as her body began to fail her she always took it with a smile and I never saw her complain.
  I learned a lot about life from “Speed” and I will miss her greatly. She was a very positive influence on my life. She loved me and I loved her.

Speedball...a woman with the biggest heart and larger than life presence. Thank you for my honey Brian. Thank you for reminding us how to live each day to the fullest and capture the beauty in all. I will miss you. I hold you close to my heart. Dawn

Hey all you Healys: Speed Ball is a legend and has the best nickname in the history of... the world! Here's to your mom.

My earliest recollections of Doc and Speed were probably early 1970's. I loved how accepting they were of Ben's motley crew. I looked like a skinny Indian with pimples, Jerry Fox looked like an Islamist terrorist, Rick Barker looked like Pat Boone. They weren't like normal parents who would steer clear. They would hang out with us, laugh,and listen. Speed had that wonderful smile and Doc had that great voice. They made us feel like a part of that wonderful family.

This is a tribute to Alison and Bryan for the daily, tender-loving-care they provided to Pat over the past few years; to Bennett Healy for sharing in the care-giving and managing her business affairs and to Brian Healy for flying out to Seattle to spell us when needed.

Speed was life! She lived with such a bountiful spirit, engaging every moment and every person with enormous depth and care and interest and passion and enthusiasm! She was a model for so many valued character traits bundled into the one and only perfect “Speed”! My memories of her are endless and precious, and my heart weeps with a loss that can’t be described! She invites me to live my life to the fullest, and so I will try, with her spirit infusing mine! I love you, Speed!

Speed was my second Mom, starting in elementary school. I remember so many things about her while playing at Ben's house. "Good" cookies (ones we don't get at our house) comes to mind. Also, her telling Ben and me where babies come from. Ben and I looked at each other and laughed. There was no way THAT was true! 
When I saw her two years ago in Seattle, she was the same Speed. I was hoping that wasn't the last time I was going to see her! 
I am so sad to not only have lost my 2nd Mom but also that now that Speed and Doc are both gone, that part of my childhood is really gone as well.

When I was asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would often reply, "I want to be Granny." She was my hero. She was intelligent, poised, caring, world traveled and humble. I will always remember doing crossword puzzles with her, taking family walks after Thanksgiving dinner, and enjoying her famous bran muffins. I will never forget the stories and lullabies that she sprinkled throughout my childhood. She taught me how to knit and how to take spiders outside. She showed me the secrets of the north woods and the joys of gardening. She was strong. She infused every interaction with her radiant charisma. Granny infused her spirit upon all of us. She seemed to have boundless reserves of energy and she punctuated nearly every conversation with her priceless “one-liners.” She lived a full life, which inspired those around her. She will be missed and remembered dearly by her family and friends. Thank you for all the memories Granny, I will cherish them and hold you in my heart forever. I love you and will miss you. Love, your granddaughter, Lara.

My mom was so wonderful! She loved life to the fullest. Her never ending energy kept our family running towards new adventures constantly. Her humor was quick and clever. Her worldly knowledge was captivating. She dedicated her life towards family unity and loved reunions. I was fortunate to have had such a special person for a mother. I miss her hugs. I miss my mom.