Dr. John Quackenbush Hatten, a beloved physician and lifelong resident of the Peninsula, died at age 93 on June 15, 2017. The son of Leone and Earl Hatten, Dr. Hatten was born April 30, 1924 in Albany, New York. The family moved to Hampton when he was six years old. He was graduated from Hampton High School in 1941 and Hampden Sydney College in 1943, where he was a member of the Navy Reserves V12 unit. Dr. Hatten received his medical degree from the University of Virginia in 1948, interned at Germantown Hospital in Philadelphia, and was a Resident in OB-GYN at MCV and the University of Virginia. He served as a Medical Officer in the US Navy during the Korean War.

Dr. Hatten practiced Obstetrics in Newport News for 41 years, limiting his practice in later years to Gynecology. He was a strong advocate for continuing education for physicians and took advantage of post-graduate courses at every opportunity. He was a Diplomate of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, a member of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and a member of the American Fertility Society. Dr. Hatten was very active in a number of medical societies, serving as President of the Virginia OB-GYN Society, a charter member of the American Menopause Society and Chief of the OB-GYN Department of Riverside Hospital, where he enjoyed training younger physicians. He was especially active in the South Atlantic Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and greatly enjoyed their meetings as well as the close friends and colleagues he met through that Society.

Dr. Hatten’s love of medicine was closely followed by his love of golf and the lifelong friendships he shared with other members of the Greatest Generation. He played golf with the same group of friends on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons for fifty years, and loved their annual golf trip to Pinehurst, NC, as well as trips to watch the Masters in Augusta, GA and to other national tournaments. He played the game locally and at famous courses until he reached his late 80’s. He was also an active member of the Newport News Rotary Club, the James River Country Club, the Hampton Roads German Club and the Hampton Roads Assembly. He was a lifelong member of the First Baptist Church.

Dr. Hatten married his childhood sweetheart, Mary Lou Payne, who grew up a few blocks from the Hattens on Chesapeake Ave and shared his birthday, April 30th. They celebrated 70 years of marriage on December 27, 2016. He loved her characterization of him as “a Virginian born away from home.” He is survived by his wife Mary Lou Hatten, his son Robert (Bobby) R. Hatten, his wife Joyce, his daughter Dr. Mary E (Mary Beth) Hatten, and his son John (Jay) Quackenbush Hatten, Jr; two granddaughters, Cary Hatten Quinn, her husband Ethan, Meredith Hatten Gentine, her husband Josh; and one grandson John Hart Baker, his wife Lene; three great-grandsons Ryan James Quinn, Jackson Robert Quinn and Henry Hatten Gentine; his sister Erah Hatten Kliewer, his sister in law, Ann Payne Wood, her husband Barry and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

The family suggests that any contributions to honor the life of Dr. John Hatten be made to the Lackey Free Clinic at 1629 Old Williamsburg Rd., Yorktown, VA 23690, to Soundscapes at 11009 Warwick Boulevard, #215 , Newport News, VA 23601, or to the charity of your choice.

Friends are encouraged to visit parklawn-woodfh.com to share memories and words of condolence with the family.