Washington Hospital opened its doors for the very first time on November 24, 1958. Within three hours, a baby girl named Michaela was born there, distinguishing her as the hospital’s “First Baby.” Throughout her life, Michaela was proud she shared her birthday with Washington Health, an institution that has grown to be an important part of our community. Michaela (Parrish) Henretty passed away on July 25, 2026, at the same place her life began 67 years before.
Hospitals are often remembered through milestones — their opening days, expansions, awards, and innovations. But their most important history is found in the people whose lives begin, change and unfold within their walls. Michaela Henretty was one of those people. She was there at the beginning, and an extraordinary piece of Washington Health’s history will always belong to her.
One of eight children, Michaela spent her life in Fremont surrounded by her beloved family and lifelong, hometown friends. She was a student at Holy Spirit Elementary School and Moreau Catholic High School before attending UC Berkeley where she played on the rugby team. Michaela enjoyed a long career in commercial insurance using her professionalism and compassion to help others.
One Day. Three Historic Fremont Firsts.
In a 2018 interview that coincided with Washington Health’s 60th anniversary and Michaela’s hip replacement at Washington Health, she shared interesting insights about her birthday. While Washington Hospital’s first baby was born on its opening day, a ceremonial ribbon cutting at the Mowry Blvd. exit officially opened CA-17, now known as I-880 connecting San Jose to Oakland.
“In addition to me being born three weeks overdue, both the Washington Hospital and Nimitz Freeway openings were also three weeks late. But we all made our debuts at the same time,” Michaela noted. “Upon going into labor, my mother, Marie, called her OB-GYN, James Sylvester, MD, and asked if she had to drive all the way to Castro Valley to deliver. He said, ‘Let me check if the new hospital is open yet.’ He called her right back and said, ‘Meet me at Washington Hospital!’ My mother’s patient ID wristband read #0001,” Michaela added.
The day Michaela was born, Washington Hospital opened its doors as a 150-bed facility with seven doctors serving a rural, growing community of 18,000 people. The idea to open the hospital came 10 years before with the formation of the Washington Township Health Care District. Residents overwhelmingly voted in the proposed tax bond to support a new hospital. At that time, the closest hospital was 20 miles away and accessed by country roads. The Niles maternity home was also about to close. Fremont needed a hospital for its growing community and a safe, convenient place for mothers to have their babies.
One of Michaela’s favorite Washington Hospital stories was how the head nurse sent her a birthday card every year until she retired when Michaela was 16. And she proudly wore the silver bracelet with milestone birthday charms that the hospital gifted her during her life. Michaela recently posted photos of her “Washington Hospital’s First Baby” newspaper article and charm bracelet on a Fremont Memories Facebook page where hundreds of people enthusiastically responded and replied with their own Washington Hospital birth stories.
Michaela and her husband Alec adopted their beloved daughter, Katarina, from Western Samoa in the early 2000s. Becoming a mother, and a two-time grandmother were among the biggest joys of Michaela’s life. “My mother was a charismatic, spunky, fun-loving person with a unique sense of style,” said Katarina. “Washington Hospital has always been an important part of our lives because of our family’s history there. The doctors and nurses treated her so well throughout the years, even before she told them she was ‘kind of a celebrity as the hospital’s first baby.’ And she was always sure to tell them!” Katarina added.
A beloved Fremont community member, Michaela remains the inspirational first representative of the thousands of babies born at Washington Health over the past 67 years. Her story is the first of countless family stories woven into the health system’s history — families who have welcomed new lives, sought care, found healing, and shared life’s most significant moments within its walls. From Michaela, the hospital’s first baby, to the generations of people who have followed, each has helped shape Washington Health and its enduring role in the community.
Today, 67 years after opening its doors and welcoming its first baby, Washington Health has evolved into a UCSF-Health affiliated, integrated health system with a level II trauma center delivering its signature patient-centered care to a diverse population of more than 500,000 people. What hasn’t changed is its mission to deliver exceptional, accessible, and personalized care to enhance the health and well-being of its diverse community. To this day, Washington Health identifies as a health care provider “by the community, for the community.”
To learn more about Washington Health, visit washingtonhealth.com.