Charles Gardiner Huntington, III, age 60, passed away unexpectedly at his Simsbury, Connecticut, home on December 27, 2009.
He was born and raised in Rye, New York. His extensive education included a BA from Williams College, a physician assistant degree from Wake Forest University, an MPH from George Washington University and completion of his course work for a Doctorate in Public Health at the University of Michigan.
From 1976 through 1985 Charles worked tirelessly as a Physician Assistant in the Hermon Health Clinic, overseen by Federico Loinaz M.D., Ogdensburg Medical Group. Charles served as president of the New York State Society of Physician Assistants in 1977. At a time when some physicians actively tried to limit or abolish the PA profession, he was the first NYSSPA President to open communication with representatives of the Medical Society of the State of New York.
Fellow PA and NYSSPA Past President David Mittman, RPA-C, said, “He was a staunch defender of the PA profession. He was a passionate advocate for PA utilization, especially in rural and medically under served areas.”
He spent considerable time and money researching and developing a business model which allowed PAs to own a practice, and that energy and foresight helped other Physician Assistants to move to St. Lawrence County to provide high quality and affordable health care to an under-served rural population. By 1980 he was the Vice President and Speaker of the House of Delegates of the American Academy of Physician Assistants.
Kenneth DeBarth, RPA-C, formerly of Heuvelton, New York (1981 through 1995), said that “Charles was my role model as a rural medical provider. He worked tirelessly for his patients. He made house calls. He worked at the local, state and national levels to expand access in rural and inner city under-served areas through utilization of PAs.” “He had served as the president of the AAPA during 1983, a position which required 100 days of travel. Just as his term ended, the Executive Director of the AAPA resigned. Charles then assumed the position of acting Executive Director of the AAPA and kept up the travel for another year, 1984. He would leave Hermon at 3:30 a.m. so that he could catch the 7:00 a.m. shuttle from Syracuse to Washington, returning home by 11:00 p.m. that night so that he could see patients in his clinic the next day. His dedication and energy were boundless.”
At the time of his death, Charles was an Associate Dean and Associate Professor at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. He was active in the Connecticut Public Health Association, the Unitarian Society of Hartford, the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, and was a past president of the American Academy of Physician Assistants. He was an active environmentalist and enjoyed hiking and biking.
Charles will be remembered as a loving and supportive husband and father, a strong leader and advocate, and a respected mentor to his students. He touched so many lives and will be greatly missed.
He is survived by his loving wife, Susan Huntington, of Simsbury; his children: William and Maya Huntington of Simsbury, Clayton Huntington, Thomas Huntington and Elizabeth Monroe all residing in New York; grandchildren: Cecelia and Gabriella Monroe and Corey Clayton Huntington; siblings: William, Margaret and Robert Huntington; step-mother: Barbara Huntington; and step-siblings: Karen Gardner and Gary Jansen. He was predeceased by his mother and father, Bobbie Huntington and Charles Huntington, Jr.
