Robert H. Hydrick

Robert Henri Hydrick, MD, age 96, of Grand Rapids, died on Tuesday January 24, 2023. He was born
December 19, 1926 in Orangeburg, South Carolina, son of Dempsey Jones Hydrick, M.D. and Molly
(Roberts) Hydrick. He grew up in Columbia, South Carolina and graduated from Columbia High School in
1943. Robert graduated from the University of South Carolina where he was a member of Phi Kappa
Sigma Fraternity. In 1949, he graduated from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, becoming the
third generation of physicians in his family, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. He is
survived by his wife of 75 years, Mary Elizabeth (Brownfield) who he met at Vanderbilt University in
Nashville, Tennessee. They moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1949 where he did his internship and
residency in OB/GYN at Butterworth Hospital (Spectrum). Soon upon his arrival in Grand Rapids, he
received a commission in the Medical Corps of the Michigan National Guard, rank of Major, and
remained active in the National Guard through 1958. Dr. Hydrick practiced OB/GYN for nearly 50 years
in Grand Rapids and was proud to deliver over 6,000 babies and provide comprehensive health services
to women. In addition to his devotion to his profession, he was a sports enthusiast, participating in
team sports early in life and was a lifelong avid spectator. He also enjoyed golfing, boating, fishing, snow
skiing, photography, his pet dogs, world travels and warm winters in Florida. His family will always be
grateful for his kind, gentle and generous nature, as well as his keen sense of humor. Robert and Mary
were members of First (Park) Congregational Church for over 70 years. For the past 10 years, they were
happy to make their home at Porter Hills Village where they enjoyed the company of lifelong and new
friends.

Robert is survived by his wife Mary and daughters Susan Middleton (Presbury West), Glenview, IL,
Constance (Robin) Adair, Pleasant Ridge, MI, Betsy (Eric) Lindberg, Herndon, VA and grandchildren
Christopher and Philip (Megan) Middleton, Jessica (Mark) Strasberg, Robin J. Adair (Sarah Sutton),
Elizabeth (Shawn) McCloskey, Harrison Adair, Seth Lindberg (Rashi Ratan) and Dr. Mary Lindberg (Josh
Gazdik). He is also survived by his great-grandchildren Liam and Charlotte Middleton, Jaya, Skye and
Michael Strasberg, Adam and Hazel Adair, Veronica McCloskey and Suhani and Sonika Lindberg. In
addition, he is survived by his nephew Dempsey J. Hydrick of N. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and his
niece Lois Hydrick McCarty of Columbia, South Carolina. He was preceded in death by his brother
Dempsey Jones Hydrick and grandsons David and John Middleton.

A memorial service for Robert will be celebrated on Saturday March 11, 2023 at 11 a.m. in the Meeting
House at Porter Hills Village, 3600 Fulton St East, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546.
Those wishing to offer expressions of sympathy are encouraged to make a memorial contribution to
First (Park) Congregational Church, Porter Hills Benevolent Fund or Planned Parenthood.

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