Howard Dean Fleetwood

Howard Dean Fleetwood, 78, passed away Thursday, January 27, 2011 at Santa Fe, New Mexico. He was born in Halstead, December 11, 1933, son of Milburn and Edna Hughes Fleetwood.

While growing up there he enjoyed a storied athletic career, both as a quarterack of his high school football team and as a starter on the 1952 state championshi basketball team.

He was a graduate of the University of Kansas and he later attended medical school at Creighton University and eventually moved to New Mexico, working first for the Public Health Service at Taos, and later as an obstetrician/gynecologist in Santa Fe. As he practiced in Santa Fe, he delivered thousands of babies, spanning generations.

Fleetwood had a passion for life and had multiple interests which included golf, hunting, fishing, beer drinking, backpacking, running, skiing and square dancing. He served in many capacities in the community, mostly notably as a physician, serving boards of St. Vincent Hospital and Miners Colfax Medical Center. He was also president and founding member of the Caja Del Rio Gun Club. Later, he became closely involved with the Northern New Mexico Senior Golf Association, serving as president, rules committee chair and chair of the scholarship committee, which he took particular pride in.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Joan, parents, Milburn "Shorty and Edna Hughes Fleetwood, and a sister, Lois Fleetwood.

He is survived by his brother, Rex Fleetwood and wife, Donna; sister, Ann and her husband, Carlos Cuevas; daughter, Karen Fleetwood and husband Michael Gonzales; sons, Mark and wife, Peggy; Jeret and wife Erika; and Michael and grandchildren, Chase, Alexandra and "J".

Mass was held February 1, 2011 at St. Francis Cathedral Basilica of Assisi, Santa Fe, New Mexico.

In lieu of flowers the family reuests thaat donations be made to the Northern New Mexico Senior Golf Association Scholarship Fund.