Loretta Fuddy

Loretta Jean Fuddy (April 12, 1948 – December 11, 2013) was an American health official and social worker from the U.S. state of Hawaii. Fuddy served simultaneously as the Director of the Hawaii Department of Health and the Mayor of Kalawao County from 2011 until her death. Under Hawaii state law, the Hawaii Department of Health administers Kalawao County, and the Director of the Hawaii Department of Health, who is appointed by the governor, simultaneously serves as the Mayor of Kalawao County while in office.

Life and career Fuddy, who was born on April 12, 1948, was nicknamed "Deliana." In a 2013 interview, she described her upbringing as the motivation behind her career in public service, "I'm a child of the ’60s, the Kennedy era of 'ask what you can do for your country' public service and Catholic values."

Fuddy worked in health and human services for forty years. Some individuals, known as "birthers," had questioned the authenticity of Obama's birth certificate and claimed that he was not born in the United States. In response to these claims, the White House released a copy of Obama's long-form birth certificate.

Death

On December 11, 2013, Fuddy traveled to Kalawao County for an annual meeting with the county's Hansen's disease patients in Kalaupapa as part of her duties as both Mayor and state health director.

Her funeral was held at the Co-Cathedral of Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus in Honolulu on December 21, 2013. Speakers included Governor Neil Abercrombie. Attendees included state Senators Michelle Kidani and Suzanne Chun Oakland.