Dr. Henry W. Huffnagle

On October 7, 2016, Dr. Henry William Huffnagle died peacefully following a brief illness, surrounded by friends and loved ones. He was 83 years old. Dr. Huffnagle was a skilled and widely respected Lancaster physician, self-taught naturalist and botanist, community leader, and passionate advocate for land conservation and preservation issues in Lancaster County. He served on the board of many local organizations including the North Museum, Lancaster County Community Foundation, the Pennsylvania Academy of Music, Homestead Village, Lancaster Country Day School, and the Hamilton Club. Most recently, as Board Chair of the Lancaster County Conservancy, Dr. Huffnagle advocated environmental education for young people and spent years shepherding the institution’s growth toward that goal. Dr. Huffnagle was an avid outdoorsman and was a member of Maskenoza Rod and Gun Club in Bushkill Falls, PA. He travelled in the US and abroad, often with many friends, to hunt, fish and hike. He completed the Appalachian Trail, the Long Trail, and Wainwright’s Coast-to-Coast Trail in northern England. As much as Dr. Huffnagle enjoyed traveling, he took great pride in the beauty of his own, beautifully landscaped backyard. He was a rugged individualist, and loved the works of great Transcendental writers who drew their inspiration from nature: Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, William Bartram, Robert Frost, and Kahlil Gibran. He appreciated music of every sort—but had a particular affinity for Johnny Cash, Ray Charles and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Dr. Huffnagle was a man of deep ethical conviction, which carried through his professional and personal lives. This conviction earned the deep respect of colleagues who referred to him as an “iconoclast” and “Giant Slayer.” At work and in the community, he was always willing to stand up to authority when he believed it was necessary. At home, he always advocated for being true to one’s character, citing Polonius’s guidance to Laertes from Shakespeare’s Hamlet: “This above all: to thine own self be true.” His sometimes edgy and curmudgeonly exterior belied his compassion, generosity, and love. He also deeply loved his family who is left with unparalleled gratitude for his teaching and guidance. His legacy of generosity and convictions continues with his children, grandchildren and the many people whose lives he touched. Dr. Huffnagle was born on September 24, 1933 in Quarryville, PA. He attended the Peddie School in Heightstown, NJ. He graduated from Franklin & Marshall College, and then completed his Doctor of Medicine degree and residency at University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Huffnagle is survived by his wife of 49 years, Mary Lou; daughter, Heather Huffnagle Hubbard; son, Henry W. Huffnagle; and three grandchildren, Evelyn, Elizabeth and Isabel. Relatives and friends are invited to Dr. Huffnagle’s Memorial Service on Wednesday, October 12, 2016 at 2:30 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, 517 N. Queen Street, (corner of Queen and James Sts.) Lancaster, PA with Reverend Stephen P. Verkouw officiating. The family will greet friends following the service. Private interment in Quarryville Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Memorials in Dr. Huffnagle’s name may be made to the Lancaster County Conservancy, 117 S. West End Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17603.