CHARLES SHELDON JUDD, JR.

Dr. Charles S. Judd, Jr. was born on December 29, 1920 in Oahu. His father, Charles S. Judd, was Chief Forester for the Territory of Hawaii. His mother was Louise Luquiens whose father was Chairman of Romance Languages at Yale University. Dr. Judd's grandfather was Albert F. Judd, Chief Justice to the Kingdom of Hawaii during Queen Liliuokalani's reign. His great-grandfather was Gerrit P. Judd who came to Hawaii in 1828 as a medical missionary and later became advisor to the Kings of Hawaii and Prime Minister and Secretary of State and founded Hawaii's first medical school in 1870.

Charlie went to Punahou School, the University of Hawaii and earned a degree in sociology from Yale University in 1943. He received his medical degree from Yale University School of Medicine in 1946. He did post-graduate work at Vanderbilt University. Dr. Judd served in the U. S. Army Graves Registration division in the South Pacific. His internship and residency were at The Queen's Hospital, Honolulu. In 1947 Charlie went to Molokai and served as physician at the Hansen's disease settlement at Kalaupapa and later at Kualapuu Hospital on Molokai.

Dr. Judd joined the Honolulu Medical Group in 1951 to practice general surgery. He was also involved with the initial experimental teams for heart surgery and gastric juice research. During a sabbatical in 1960, Charlie and his family went to Japan where he taught medical students and the first medical social work in Japan. In 1962 Dr. Judd was a physician volunteer in American Samoa. He returned to Western Samoa, 1965-69, as the only surgeon in a nation of 150,000.

Dr. Judd was founder of the Hillebrand Medical Historical Society of Honolulu in the early 1950's, and was founder of "Spectrum: Medicine and Morals" magazine also in the 1950's. He earned a master's degree in medical history after studying with Ilza Veith at the University of California San Francisco, 1969-70. The John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii was opened in 1970 and Dr. Judd became a member of the faculty in the Department of Surgery. A Department of Medical History was formed with Dr. Judd as Chairman. He was chosen each year by the medical students to deliver the Hippocratic oath and in 1988 the graduating class dedicated the annual Excellence in Teaching Award to Dr. Judd. Charlie's home was always open to medical students and the medical school annual luau was held there for many years.

In 1972 a group of community residents and social service agency staff organized Kokua Kalihi Valley (Comprehensive Family Services) and asked Dr. Judd to be a member of the board of directors. With the help of Dr. Bill Myer, Dr. Judd opened a new clinic on October 27, 1972 to serve the immigrant and low-income patients of the area, which included many Samoans. By the summer of 1973 the clinic was able to move into a surplus military personnel trailer. Dr. Judd devoted every Wednesday afternoon for the next six years caring for patients at the clinic.

Dr. Judd's service to the medical profession and the community included membership in the following organizations: the American Medical Association, the Hawaii Medical Association, the Honolulu County Medical Society, the American College of Surgeons, the Pan-Pacific Surgical Association, the Pacific Coast Surgical Association, the Hawaii Surgical Association, the Socie'te' Internationale de Chirurgie, the Osler Society (only 30 U. S. members), the Western Samoa Medical Association, the Hawaii Historical Society, the Bishop Museum Association, the Hawaiian Mission Children's Society (president 1962), Hui Hanai of Queen Liliuokalani Trust, Yale Club of Hawaii, Social Science Association of Hawaii (secretary), the Marimed Foundation (chairman of the board), the Honolulu Symphony and the Honolulu Academy of Arts. He was a board member of the Hawaii Medical Library for more than 25 years and held every office in that organization, including president 1977-79. He was a board member of the Young People's Support Center, the Aloha Council of the Boy Scouts of America, the Youth Conservation Corps of Hawaii, and a deacon of Central Union Church. He was also a member of the board of trustees of The Queen's Medical Center and program chairman of staff meetings for Kuakini Medical Center. Dr. Judd received many awards and honors, two of which were: the Hawaii Medical Association's Physician of the Year Award 1969 and the Jefferson Award for Outstanding Volunteerism 1979.

Charlie Judd married Mary Julia Stacey on February 18, 1956. Mary was an anthropologist at the Bishop Museum when they met and she encouraged and supported Charlie throughout all his endeavors. She worked in Charlie's office and often referred to him as "Doctor No Charge". They had three children: Bonnie, Charles S., III and Thomas S. Dr. Judd enjoyed sports, hiking, biking, jogging, sailing, travel, books and photography. Often times he would combine his interests such as hiking the old trail around the island of Hawaii.

Dr. Charles S. Judd died of leukemia on July 23, 1987 at the age of 66 years. The tributes and honors at the time of his death were numerous and heartfelt. At the memorial service at Central Union Church the people overflowed the sanctuary. He was honored by the presentation to Mary of a fine mat by a representative of the King of Western Samoa, Tanumafili Malietoa. This ceremony was only offered once before to a non-Samoan, Robert Louis Stevenson. The Queen Emma Trust set up a million dollar trust to be used for physicians and health workers to and from Pacific education. The clinic at Kokua Kalihi Valley was named the "Charles S. Judd, Jr. Community Health Center". There were many more tributes and dedications in his name.

The following is taken from the Hawaiian Mission Children's Society Annual Report 1987:

Few missionary descendants treasured their heritage more or followed more closely the examples set by their forebearers than did Dr. Judd. Upon returning to Hawaii after seven years away at school, he responded to a request for aid that came from Kalaupapa, Molokai. On the eve of his departure, at age 26, he wrote: 'I hope to remember all the time that I am very fortunate in this sunny land and that I must make use of my opportunities. My ideas and ideals have changed since I went away to Yale as a freshman 7½ years ago. I have been impressed with the idea that goodness is the great thing to strive for; that it is better to try to be an individual with independent thought than to succumb to an everyday humdrum rut of conventionalism; that peace of mind and God's way may be found through searching out all kinds of people and lands and talking with them to learn their beliefs and that there perhaps is a reason why some men are spared while others are taken. There must be a reason for life, and I want to make my life worthwhile.'

He had ideals and he lived by them. He met challenges and found good in all that he encountered. As a member of a group - whether it was church, scouts, medical, intellectual, or civic - he stood up for and believed in its creed. Whether you were a patient, a colleague, a student, a classmate, a friend, a "cousin" or just a fellow human being, he sought the best in each. His quiet participation in all that was good enhanced the lives of so many. He never sought personal gain or attention and he saw the best in each individual. This world will miss his Christian compassion and courage, and his wonderful sense of humor.

Since his death, there is a new shower tree on Honolulu's Richards Street ; there is a new Foundation at the University of Hawaii Medical School; a new million dollar program at Queen's Medical Center to provide education to physicians and medical workers and to support programs in the Pacific; there is a new clinic on the MariMed yacht, 'Tole Mour', destined for the Marshall Islands; there is a new building at Kokua Kalihi Valley; a new historical room at the Hawaii Medical Library; and two new funds at Yale University - all of which have been named for Dr. Charles S. Judd, Jr."

Medicine in Hawaii: Oral History Series

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