The Doc – to the end!
The Doc was not a tall man, but he and his family remain giants in the history of Albany medicine, architecture, law, education, sport and golf. The family archives are filled with brave, generous decisions that still impact the Albany community.
Henry H. Hun was the eldest child of Dr. Henry Hun and Lydia Marcia Hand. He was born in 1892 and died in 1972. His sister, Lydia Marcia Hun married Kenneth Reynolds, parents of Marcus, Stephen and Kenneth Reynolds, all former club members. Doc Hun was a descendent of Thomas Hun of Amerfoort, Holland whose son, Harmen Thomase Hun migrated to this country and settled in Beverwyck, New Netherland (Albany, New York) no later than 1661. Since then the family has an unparalleled record of dedicated achievement and service.
In the early 20th century, The Doc’s father purchased the land where the Albany Academy now resides. Believing the school needed grounds for expansion, he donated the property to the Academy, thus allowing the school to move from its overcrowded downtown facility. Henry sr. served as Chairman of the Board at AAC from 1906 through 1924 and was instrumental in shaping the institution.
Our good doctor attended Yale and then Johns Hopkins Medical School. Fortunately, he returned to Albany to continue the family tradition of surgery at Albany Hospital which later merged with Albany Medical College. Dr. Hun was an accomplished and dedicated surgeon, receiving local and national acclaim.
The Doc’s fixation with golf came at an early age. On one golfing vacation, The Doc was driving from Philadelphia to New York and for some unknown reason passed through Clementon, New Jersey, where a new golf course was being completed. Our enthusiast was granted a tour and decided the course had potential. He inquired as to the membership cost and was informed that the initiation fee and first year’s dues would amount to $25.00. Without further ado, the Doc signed on as one of the first members of the esteemed Pine Valley Golf Club, where he maintained his membership to the end.
Along the way, he arranged for his nephew Kenny, to continue his tradition. Kenny launched the annual Henry H. Hun Memorial Pine Valley Tournament, whose winner was determined in a full handicap, individual event. An interesting feature was that this event did not allow for unplayable lies. The ball had to be struck from its lie. This created memorable scenes. Schuyler Meadows members were seen striking balls from branches five feet off the ground, playing snake infested swamps, where caddies would not venture, banking sand shots off rail ties and putting out to the end. The Henry Hun Pine Valley Trophy became the most revered cup in the case! Recipients held it for one year. The adventures and camaraderie were life experiences and almost as memorable as The Doc himself.
The Doc made many trips to the Valley. One of his favorite groups included Happy Porter, Froggy French and Johnny Doolittle. As he aged, he was permitted to bend the rules a bit. As he could not clear the waste areas, he was granted the right to drive, and then drop at the fairway’s edge. Two strokes was the self-imposed penalty.
The Devil’s A at the famous 10th created a different set of problems. Typically Doc Hun could not navigate entry or exit, but at one point late in his career, he ventured down to the bottom. Remarkably he wedged the ball perfectly out. The ball landed twenty feet shy of the pin but right on course. When it fell into the cup, Doolittle and French swooned face first onto the green, igniting a raucous celebration uncharacteristic of The Valley. It was a proud two! The frozen scotches ran deep and long that evening, right to the end.
One of Dr. Hun’s biggest decisions was made during WWII. He had an uncompromising dedication to service and country. At age 48 and a bit disabled, he was declared unfit for military service. He persisted, and at his insistence, he accompanied Eldridge Campbell and the famous 33rd Field Hospital Unit to Africa under Dwight D. Eisenhower and then onto Italy under General Clark. The 33rd was an all-Albany group of doctors, nurses and staff. Doctor Hun remained as second in command right to the end.
Upon his return from the war, he was asked to preside at Schuyler Meadows where he manned the reins from 1946 -1964. He shaped the club, the course and the amenities. He generously contributed to not only the management but the operation of the facility. It is safe to say that the Meadows would not exist were it not for Doctor Hun.
He was a hard working, cigar smoking character. Impossible to forget! His genuine love of the game and his blend of sport, cheer and achievement inspired all around him. When The Doc came for dinner, my mother would become nervously infatuated with details. Every place serving had to be perfect, every piece of silver glistening, the meat must be passed for review and every morsel a delight. Children were to be scrubbed and briefly extend their greeting before retiring to an evening of silence, listening at the top of the stairs. If the Reynolds clan was aboard, the after dinner events included song, cigar and abundant refreshments. Mother would do her best but would eventually retire before the evening’s conclusion. Truth be told she preferred that The Doc come to play rather than take Johnny out on the town.
The Doc could tease! When being released from his care after a procedure, he instructed my mother that I would require extensive maternal care and that he would help by meeting Johnny on the course at 1:00 p.m. each of the next three days. Mother could only accept such advice from Dr. Hun.
The Doc never married. He lived in the Hun House on Washington Avenue, just above the University Club. He was an avid bridge player and led a group that wintered with daily bridge sessions at the Fort Orange Club. They played in the room at the top of the stairs and for many years their portraits, drawn by Hy Rosen, adorned the walls. Stakes contestants came from far away places to test the locals and generally left town significantly lighter than when they arrived.
In addition to providing the club with years of guidance and generosity, the good Doc left Schuyler Meadows with a few other traditions. His insistence on mulligans, his refusal to tolerate designated tee times, his preservation of the caddy system and his firm belief that the handicap system allowed all golfers to be competitive set us apart from other facilities. When members qualify for the Henry H. Hun Tournament, they should recall the Doc as they use his treasured mulligans.
I had the pleasure to join my father and play with Doctor Hun and Happy Porter on many occasions. His best golf days were gone, but his joy of the game never faltered. He never complained, never made excuses. The Doc played on right to the end.
Thank you, Doc!
