David Smith Hubbell

David Smith Hubbell, 95, died at his home with family on January 11, 2018. He was a doctor in St Petersburg, Florida from 1954 to 1985. He was partners with Dr. Winston Heibner for much of that time. Dr. Hubbell was born in Dallas TX, in 1922, the second son of Lucinda Smith Hubbell and Professor Jay Broadus Hubbell. David grew up in Durham, NC graduating from Duke Medical School in 1946, where he lettered in basketball and belonged to the Kappa Alpha fraternity. While in medical school, he played in the "Secret Game," an illegal basketball game between his medical school team and the North Carolina College for Negroes, now known as North Carolina Central University. Scott Ellsworth described this game for the New York Times Magazine and later expanded this story to the PEN award winning 2015 book, "The Secret Game." This was probably the first basketball game ever played in the South between two organized teams, with one team being all black and the other team all white. For the second game, immediately following, both teams integrated and played skins v. shirts. While in medical school, David met Barbara Baynard of St. Petersburg, Florida a Duke student and future alumna. They lived for two years in Hawaii while he was in the Army Medical Corps, then spent five years in Connecticut while he went through an advanced surgical residency at Yale University Medical Center. Barbara and David were married in the First Presbyterian Church on July 3, 1947. They moved to St Petersburg in 1954. Their three children, Kathryn, Lawrence, and Daniel all grew up in St. Petersburg and attended local schools. Dave enjoyed the company of dear friends and good food, sailing and tennis. He was a board member and later president of the St. Petersburg Tennis Club. He admired and loved to read Mark Twain, starting this lifelong affection while in his early teens. Dave donated his Mark Twain collection to the Poynter Library of the University Of South Florida in St. Petersburg. Possibly inspired to be a story teller by Mark Twain, he gave popular lectures on the colorful author, and in 2007 Dave wrote and self-published a period novelette entitled "Flat Rock Harvest." Dr. Hubbell performed the first open heart surgery done in Pinellas County in 1955. His professional memberships and accomplishments include leadership of the Pinellas County Medical Society, the Suncoast Affiliate of the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society's Pinellas County unit, the Florida Division of the American Cancer Society, the Florida Society of Cardio-thoracic Surgeons, and of the American College of Surgeons' Florida Chapter. He served as Chief of the Surgical Staff at Bayfront Medical Center and as vice-chief of the medical staff of St. Anthony's Hospital. At the University Of South Florida College Of Medicine, he was chief of the cardio-thoracic surgical section for 2 six years. He held the rank of Professor with joint appointments in the departments of Surgery and Anatomy. In 1984 Dave received the prestigious A. J. Gorday MD award for service to the medical community. He did volunteer medical work, and perhaps his proudest achievement was his contribution to the education of 1,100 medical students and dozens of surgical residents who now have practices of their own. He enjoyed the love and company of his wonderful wife, Bobbie, of 70 years. They enjoyed traveling especially in Italy, France, Great Britain, and their beloved summer home in Flat Rock NC. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, the St. Petersburg Yacht Club, the Rotary Club, and the Suncoasters. For many years Bobbie and David held a festive soup party every New Year's Eve. He admired competency in many fields including nursing, plumbing, cooking, and listening with an open mind. He understood the accomplishment of doing a job well. Dave's message for posterity is simple and heart felt, "Help each other". David's Celebration of Life Gathering will be held at Anderson McQueen Wednesday, January 24 from 12:00-2:00. A Memorial service will be held at 1pm on Thursday, February 8, 2018 at First Presbyterian Church. A graveside service will follow ar Royal Palm Cemetery.