Daly, Dr. Michael James

Dr. Michael James Daly, a retired general surgeon who lived in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died May 17, 2010, at Herman Memorial Hospital in Houston, Texas. He became ill while at his holiday house in Roatan, Honduras and was flown to the nearest American city, Houston, but never recovered.

Dr. Daly was born in Glasgow, Scotland. He and his family moved to Kenya in 1948. He lived there until the early 1960s, leaving to attend medical school at the University of Ireland, Galway, where he graduated with first class honors. Dr. Daly was a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in England and Edinburgh and a Fellow of the International College of Surgeons. He held a degree in public health from Glasgow University. Once qualified, Dr. Daly returned to Kenya to work at a hospital in Mombasa. As a young doctor he gained a wealth of practical experience, while his fluency in Swahili was a huge asset. He then worked in England before accepting a job in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

His wanderlust and need to help others caused him to accept a position with the International Red Cross and he headed a British Red Cross surgical team which was sent to Cambodia. He refused to be evacuated and was there, caring for his patients, when the city fell to the Khmers. His work in Cambodia was brought alive through the book “The Killing Fields” which was later made into a movie.

Dr. Daly met and fell in love with his wife, Elizabeth Senecal, in Phom Penn, Cambodia. They were married in Melvin Village, N.H., on Aug. 14, 1976. Dr. Daly and his wife moved to Saudi Arabia, where he worked as chief of surgery at the military hospital in Khamis Mushayt, Saudi Arabia. Two of his three daughters were born there.

His first eight years in the United States were spent in Smithfield, N.C., where he practiced as a general surgeon and in his spare time was an avid Mr. Fix It and gardener. In 1988, Dr. Daly came to Cedar Rapids to join General Surgeons PC and subsequently Physicians Clinic of Iowa. He practiced in Cedar Rapids for over 20 years. He spent much of his time teaching and working with the family practice residents and was always concerned about the next generation of physicians.

He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Senecal Daly; daughters, Claire Rathburn (Jeff) of Minneapolis, Frindee Daly of Superior, Colo., and Louisa who is living and working in Kabul, Afghanistan; sisters, Frances LaBonte (Ray) of Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates and Kay De Halpert (Simon) of Nutbourne, England, UK; a niece; and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father and mother, James Michael Daly and Frances McIntrye Daly.

A memorial service will be held in Cedar Rapids for Dr. Daly in late September or early October with the time and place to be announced later.

Memorial contributions may be given in Dr. Daly's memory to the Michael Daly Memorial Fund at Mercy Medical Center Foundation, 701 10th St., Cedar Rapids, IA 52403.

An online memorial has been created for Dr. Daly. Please share your photos, stories and memories with family and friends: