Luis Fernandez-Herlihy, M.D., of Bedford died peacefully on January 23, 2023, two weeks shy of his 97 ^th birthday.

"Lu" was born in San Diego, California, but spent his childhood traveling around South America and Europe with his parents, Graciela Herlihy and Luis Fernandez-Macgregor, a Mexican diplomat. He vividly remembered his school classes on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, riding his bike in Holland during the war, summers in Mexico playing imaginative games with his cousins, and the beloved uncle whose leathery library instilled in him a passion for books and reading. The three years he spent as a boy at the Hollylea School in Liverpool were among his happiest, leaving him a lifelong Anglophile.

He attended St. Louis University and in 1949 graduated from Harvard Medical School. After residencies at the Boston City Hospital and the Mayo Clinic, he served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps from 1955 to 1957 as chief of medicine at the U.S. Army Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Lu practiced internal medicine at the Lahey Clinic for 34 years, serving as head of the rheumatology section for 25 years, and a member of the board of governors for 3 years. A past president of the New England Rheumatism Society, he was also a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society, and a fellow of the American College of Physicians and the American College of Rheumatology.

Lu was best known for his kindness; keen sense of humor; wide-ranging curiosity; deep appreciation of books, nature, travel, and classical music; and good-humored patience with his five beloved daughters.

Above all he loved his wife of 68 years, Ruth (Ruthie) Stillman, who predeceased him. Theirs was an extraordinary marriage full of love for each other, their families, and their community. They enjoyed many mutual interests such as travel, books, and family gatherings. Some of their happiest days were spent in Chatham sailing, walking, reading, and birding.

In his later years, Lu enjoyed the many good friends he made at his Carleton-Willard Village home, finding special contentment in his dear friend and fellow cinephile Ruth Reeves.

He leaves daughters Chrissy (Rodrigo Carvajal), Sarah (Brian Wiseman), Katie (Mark Donovan), Betsy (George Sugai), and Martha (Dan Clune); 10 grandchildren (Luisa, Peter, Sarah, Nat, Eliza, Alex, Maggie, Kiyoshi, Danny, and Reiko); and 13 great-grandchildren (John, Alejandra, Sofia, Anna, Max, Ru, June, Billy, Tom, Greta, Kenzo, Zella, and Elliot).

Memorial services are private. As an expression of remembrance, you may make a donation in Luis's name to the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program. Mail to: Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, Development Office, 780 Albany St., Boston, MA 02118.