Dr. Marshall Rudd Holley, 75, beloved husband, father, brother, and uncle died at his home in New Haven on December 5, 2010 after a long battle with cancer. Dr. Holley is survived by his wife Teresita Abaya Holley, his son David Marshall Holley, his brother William Arthur (Joan) Holley Jr., sisters Vermelle Paris, and Bernice Willis, niece Holley Willis, nephews William A. Holley III, Patrick Holley (Leigh), grand nephew William A. Holley (IV), grand niece Palmer Holley, and grand nephew William Pierce Holley.
Dr. Holley was born in New Haven, Conn, on July 24, 1935, son of the late Dr. William Arthur Holley and Vermelle (Campbell) Holley. He graduated from James Hillhouse High School in 1953; Amherst College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1957; and Howard University College of Medicine with a Doctor of Medicine degree in 1961. He interned in the United States Air Force Hospital at Wright ‑Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio and completed his residency in Obstetrics- Gynecology at Yale New Haven Hospital in 1969. He served in the United States Air Force with the rank of Captain from 1961 – 1965 and had duty stations in Japan, the Philippines, and Washington, D.C. He established a private practice of Obstetrics-Gynecology in New Haven and Branford, Connecticut in 1969 and practiced for more than three decades. He was the obstetrician-gynecologist at the Hill Health Center from 1969 – 1980 where he received the great admiration and respect of the young mothers with whom he worked. He was a Clinical Instructor and an Associate Clinical Professor of Obstetrics-Gynecology at Yale University School of Medicine. He was a Diplomat and a Fellow of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
He was a member of the Admissions Committee for the Yale University College of Medicine, and served on the Perinatal & Mortality Committee and the OB-GYN Executive Committee of Yale New Haven Hospital. He was treasurer of the New Haven Independent Practice Association. In 1995, he was recipient of the Stanley Lavietes OB-GYN Award presented to the community physician voted by the Yale Obstetrics and Gynecology residents as representing an outstanding example of superb patient care, devotion to resident teaching, and overall clinical excellence. Dr. Holley was a member of many professional associations, including the National Medical Association; the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology; the Connecticut State Medical Society; the New Haven County Medical Association; and the New Haven Obstetrical Society. He served on the board of directors of Community Housing Inc.; the American Cancer Society; Family Services, Inc.; the New Haven Urban League; the Women’s Health Services; the Southern Connecticut State College Foundation, and Connecticut Savings Bank. He was president of the Dixwell Community House in 1977 – 81 and was president of the New Haven Obstetrical Society in 1980.
An avid tennis player he was president of the New Haven Racquet Wielder’s Tennis Club and on the board of the American Tennis Association and the New England Tennis Association (NELTA) for many years. He was president of NELTA from 1979 – 1983 and served as its tournament director every July at the Yale Tennis Courts in New Haven. Dr. Holley retired from the practice of obstetrics-gynecology in December 2002, so that he could spend more time with his wife Teresita and son David and concentrate on his loves of tennis and gardening. Dr. Holley had a long and distinguished career. He was loved, admired, and respected by all whose lives he touched in so many ways. His memory will live forever in the hearts of those who knew him. Arrangements under the direction of the Howard K. Hill Funeral Home are private and there are no calling hours. A memorial service celebrating the life of Dr. Holley will be held in the New Year. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to one of the following charities: The United Negro College Fund, The New Haven Scholarship Fund, or Planned Parenthood. To sign a memorial book for the Holley family, please visit the website: http://hkhfuneralservices.com.
When I was 21 and found out I was going to be a father, it was Doctor Holley's kindness that reassured me (and my wife, 19 at the time) that everything would be ok....he was right. Thanks for everything Dr Holley, you will be greatly missed by all the lives you touched and all those you helped bring into this world.