David Haydon Riddick, MD, of Leesburg, formerly of Richmond, passed away after a long illness. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Susan Deredith Riddick; sons, Gregory P. Riddick and Christopher S. Riddick (Crystal); daughters, Jennifer R. Gorman (Robert) and Rebekah E. McCormick (Scott); and three grandchildren. He was predeceased by his son, Scott Marshall Riddick; his parents, Roland P. Riddick and Lucy Catherine Riddick; his brother, Roland P. Riddick Jr.; and sister, Nancy Camden Witt.

Dr. Riddick graduated from Randolph-Macon College, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Kappa Alpha. He graduated from the University of Virginia Medical School in 1966 and was inducted into the Medical Honor Society, AOA, and the Raven Society. After medical school, he began his internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Yale-New Haven Hospital. From 1968 to 1970, he served with the Public Health branch of the Armed Forces in the Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health. Afterwards, he returned to UVA Medical Center to complete his training in Internal Medicine and a fellowship specializing in Hematology and Oncology. He began his medical practice with Medical Specialists in Richmond, Va., in 1974.

Dr. Riddick was greatly revered by his colleagues and hospital staff and will be remembered as an incredibly experienced and caring physician. His empathy and listening skills won the hearts of his patients and families alike as they dealt with the difficult circumstances of terminal illnesses. Seeing the need for a palliative approach to his terminal patients, he founded the Hospice of Central Virginia. Located in Retreat Hospital, the inpatient hospice opened in 1984 with Dr. Riddick as Medical Director.

In retirement, he applied the same boundless energy to a number of hobbies, which included painting, fishing, spiritual studies, reading, traveling and also became a Master Gardener. He enjoyed many trips abroad with his wife and spending time with his children and grandchildren. He will be remembered for his immense intelligence, dry wit and tenacity for any project he undertook.

A private memorial in his honor will be held in the near future.

The family asks that contributions be made in his name and sent to the Hospice of Central Virginia.