PATRICIA RUST HEALY  1925-2014 

Patricia Rust Healy, age 88, passed away at her daughter's home in Redmond, WA on March 1, 2014.  She was born in Grosse Pointe, Michigan to David W. and Margaret Rust.  Pat "Speed" Healy was married to Madison physician Dr. John R. Healy, and she was the mother of four children – Diane Trastek, Alison Ashbaugh, Bennett Healy, and Brian Healy - and eleven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Pat was special to so many because of her engaging enthusiasm about children, world affairs, and her community.  She always made time to accept and listen to people from all walks of life, believing that everyone she met had an interesting story.  With four active children and a husband with a very busy medical practice, Pat’s life exemplified the ethics and altruism displayed by many parents of the "greatest generation".  Every Thanksgiving she called the University foreign student housing and invited one or two students to join the family so they could experience a traditional American holiday.  

The Healy’s moved to Madison in 1955 and quickly joined the dynamic west-side community of Orchard Ridge, and the greater medical and university network in Madison.  Pat helped organize the annual 4th of July parade, as well as supported the Ridgewood Pool.  She was active with the Orchard Ridge Congregational Church (where she sang in the Sunday choir);  she was a fund-raiser for the YMCA and supported the South Madison Community Center. Pat also participated for many years in the "Meals-on-Wheels" program, and was active in the League of Women Voters.  

The Healy household was a haven for the numerous friends of her four children.  Many considered "Speed" to be their "second mother," whose home was always open offering food, lodging, emotional support, and advice whenever the need arose.  She also fed and nurtured the numerous animals and family pets – a raccoon, a skunk, several dogs and cats, tropical fish, hamsters, Guinea pigs, ducks, birds and horses - when not attending book club meetings or teacher conferences. 

Pat loved to ski and to travel. The Madison Ski Club provided the perfect way to combine both passions with many of their closest friends.  For several decades the Healy family was a fixture on Club trips to Europe, Colorado and Utah.  Pat taught all four of her children to ski on the local ski hill at Blackhawk, snow-plowing with her toddlers wedged between her knees. 

With her husband "Doc," Pat traveled to many foreign countries, including the Truk Islands, Guam, Europe, South America, Greece, Turkey, New Zealand, Russia, Patagonia and many remote and exotic Bone-fishing locations in Belize and Mexico.  While in Belize she assisted her husband in an emergency birthing of a local islander’s daughter, whom the proud parents named “Patricia” in her honor.  Meeting people from other cultures and having new experiences kept Pat refreshed and energized, and her enthusiasm was contagious to all who met her.

Following Doc's death Pat moved to the Seattle area in 2009 to live with Alison and her husband Bryan.  Bennett and family lived nearby so she rarely lacked for something to do or friends and family to be with.  

Even as her health failed, Patricia approached each day with humor, a snappy wit, a quick smile, and no complaints.  Her kindness and grace touched everyone she met. She taught by example, even during her final transition.  As we miss this joyful woman, she would be the first to say she lived a wonderful life! 

Pat will be laid to rest beside her husband John and her daughter Diane near the family compound in Fifield, Wisconsin sometime this summer.  Pat asked that remembrances be given to the Nature Conservancy.