Lisa Rose Huff MD, PhD, MPH

Dr. Lisa Rose Huff was born on December 28, 1956 in Norwalk, CA to loving parents Tommy Rose and Elizabeth Rose. After moving frequently, the family settled down in Potomac, MD when she was in 6th grade. Lisa graduated from Winston Churchill High School in 1974, where she was the captain of the pom pom squad.

Lisa had a lifelong love of learning. She attended Wake Forest University where, outside of studying, she was a member of the flag team. She graduated cum laude in 1978 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and then earned a PhD in Neuroanatomy from Medical University of South Carolina in 1984. After a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical School in 1984, she completed her MD at Medical University of South Carolina in 1988.

Lisa then began her residency at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, CO as an OB/GYN. She fell in love with one of her fellow residents, Terry, and his daughter, Lezah. Lisa and Terry were married the following year in 1989, with Lezah as their flowergirl. They welcomed their daughter Anna in 1990 and soon after moved to Ahwatukee, AZ, where they began practicing as OB/GYNs. They started their own practice, Desert Rose OB/GYN, in 1994 in Mesa, AZ. Lisa and Terry welcomed two more daughters: Christie in 1995 and Amanda in 1996.

Throughout her life, Lisa was passionate about giving to others. She led the family on Global Volunteers service trips to Peru, Ghana, Ecuador, Poland, Romania, St. Lucia, Tanzania, and India. These experiences inspired her to earn a Masters of Public Health from Johns Hopkins University in 2014 and serve as a Peace Corps Response Volunteer for a year in Luangwa, Zambia in 2016. As a final contribution to academia, Lisa and Terry were visiting professors at Nankai University in Tianjin, China in 2018.

Lisa had diverse interests and lived a joyful life. She was an avid runner who ran several marathons, including the New York City Marathon at the age of 61. She loved watching the NCAA Tournament with Terry every year, attending multiple regional games and even a Final Four. Her daily pleasures included drinking a Starbucks latte and completing the New York Times crossword. Some of her favorite memories are walking on the beach in Carlsbad, snowshoeing in Beaver Creek, attending the Atlanta and Salt Lake City Olympic Games, and meeting the princesses in Disneyland with her daughters and granddaughters.

Lisa was an exemplary role model to each of her daughters and supported their passions. Lezah is currently a nurse practitioner in women’s health, and Amanda just completed the first year of her MD program at the University of Arizona College of Medicine. Lisa’s service oriented life influenced her daughter Anna to pursue volunteer work as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Marakabei, Lesotho. Lisa was the number one supporter and fan of her daughter Christie, giving her the courage to live her dream of being a singer songwriter. Lisa was a loving Gaga, seamstress, and playmate to her two granddaughters, Hazel and Stella King.

After a long battle with breast cancer, Lisa passed away on the evening of June 7, 2022 at the age of 65. She was surrounded by family in the comfort of her home in Mesa, AZ. Lisa is survived by her mother Elizabeth Rose, husband Dr. Terry Huff, sisters Lori Hayes and Linda Ash, and daughters Lezah King, Anna Huff, Christie Huff, and Amanda Huff. She was preceded in death by her father, Tommy Rose.

We are devastated to have lost the glue that holds our family together. A celebration of life is scheduled for 10 am on Thursday, June 16, 2022 at Red Mountain United Methodist Church in Mesa, AZ. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Lisa’s life. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Every Mother Counts at https://everymothercounts.org.