Dr. Thomas Matthews Haizlip

Thomas Matthews Haizlip, MD, an understated man who dedicated his life to the service of others, died peacefully September 7th following a stroke a few days earlier. He was born January 6, 1932 in Leaksville (now Eden), NC to John Wesley and Dorothy Edwards Haizlip.

Despite 4 years of revelry and occasional poker-playing with his Sigma Chi brothers during his undergraduate education at Wake Forest College (B.S. 1954), Tom was accepted into Medical School at the University of North Carolina, where according to his accounts, he quickly realized he’d have to straighten up his act. Having done so, he graduated with his MD in 1958 and began a surgical internship and residency at Roosevelt Hospital in New York, New York. There he met his wife Dolores (Dee) Reiber who was working as a nurse anesthetist, and whom he married four years later following two years of service with the US Army during the Korean War.

Upon his return, despite Dee’s original assumption that she would be marrying a surgeon, Tom decided to pursue a career in child and adolescent psychiatry. Following his training at Dorthea Dix (psychiatry, 1965) and Duke University (child psychiatry, 1966), he began his quest to ensure excellent, accessible mental health care to all children and adolescents in the State of North Carolina. Over the course of his 30+ year career, Tom founded and served as the Director of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Dorthea Dix Hospital in Raleigh (1974-1996) and served as Director of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at UNC-Chapel Hill (1988-2000). After visiting his office, his daughter Julie thought he must just play with toys all day. In reality, he not only provided direct care to children and their families, but also contributed to the education of hundreds of psychiatry residents and child psychiatry fellows who now carry on his work. Accomplishments that Tom was particularly proud of included the development of Project Enlightenment - a school-based early intervention program for preschool children at risk of mental health concerns, and the development of a series of coloring books that helped children recover from trauma. His many contributions to the care of North Carolina’s children led to him being honored by the Governor with The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest award given to a citizen of the state.

When not working, Tom could be found reading to a child, sleeping in his favorite chair while the race was on, watching UNC sports (especially when son Tom was a cheerleader), or relaxing at the beach with his family and dear friends Preston and Jane Walker and their kids Kathy and Rusty. He also did a lot of yard work, but he wouldn’t want to be remembered for that.

Tom is survived by his wife of 60 years, Dolores (Dee) Reiber Haizlip, his children Tom Haizlip, Jr (Lise Bowers Haizlip) and Julie Haizlip (Burton (Biff) Beers, Jr), grandchildren Silas Beers, Annelise Haizlip, Max Beers, Juliana Haizlip, Tessa Beers, and Doraine Buluma, and sister Martha Haizlip Holland. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, friends and “chosen family” who will miss his gentle nature and unsurpassed southern hospitality. He is pre-deceased by his parents, his brother John Haizlip, Jr and sister Anne Haizlip Lawson Weaver.

The family wishes to extend their sincere thanks to Neema Momanyi and the staff of Rex Hospital including - but not limited to - Dr. Minth Shah and nurses Grace M., Aine, and Tensie for the compassionate care they provided to Tom and his family members.

A celebration of Tom’s life will be held at Mitchell Funeral Home in Raleigh on Sept 24th at 3pm. For those wishing to remember Tom, the family would appreciate hearing any memories you might want to share, flowers would be welcomed, or memorial contributions in Tom’s honor may be made to the Foundation of Hope (walkforhope.com) or your local Ronald McDonald House.

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