Funeral Details

I met Bill when I was very conflicted about life and work. I was 28. My dad had died of brain cancer when I was a medical student, I had cancer as a pediatrics resident and was going through a recent divorce. I was not even sure I wanted to stay in medicine and had interviewed at a theater school.
So when, as a neonatal fellow-mixed-up-about-life-purpose-and-the-universe, I decided to go to SPR (Bill's favorite conference), I did not know which talk to attend. On purpose, I went to everything I was "not into" and that had nothing to do with my so called path and avoided all the neonatal talks. One of the sessions was Bioethics: this is where I saw Bill the first time, with his jean jacket and his leather hat. He gave 2 wonderful talks that left me speachless. He hit a spot, he was a raw no bullshit person. He gave proof that we were mediocre creatures, trying our best. That informed consent was a load of crap concept, that patients often just wanted to trust the doctor (that, I new from my recent experiences). That an attending attends, is there, does not disappear. WOW! This is what I wanted to do.
After the talks, I waited my turn in line, behind VIPs who wanted to speak to Bill. I asked him what I needed to do to do what he did. I probably had a look of despair in my eyes. Even if I was a nobody, he found 30 minutes of his time during that conference to speak with me, share a cup of nasty drip coffee (he did not care about that much!) in a room with an old carpet that was way to air conditionned.
Since then, he has helped me, been my PhD director, my mentor and my muse, my bright light, my spiritual father. My father was also a no nonsense, non PC, highly intelligent man, a true person, a mentor, a person who had integrity and intolerance of mediocrity.
Bill helped me find my way, find my strengths, go deep into unchartered territory, continue "not giving a fuck" about being true to myself and my values, even if some "higher people" were at risk of being flus

Annie Janvier

Hi to you all...You don't know me but I (and i suspect my co-residents) felt that we knew you. Bill was my first attending in the NICU as a resident, in a new city, away from home and all that was familiar. I fell in love with neonatology (and Bill!) that month. He taught me that one could be passionate about medicine (we loved his late evening 'rounds' walking in with Munchkins to keep us going) and family (often sharing a story about what he had just been up to, what sporting event he had attended of his kids that night, what homework you were working on)...We learned humanity, love, and balance from Bill. Among so many other lessons about the 10 rules of neonatology. We learned that we could be great at both family and medicine, and that a heart was big enough for both. I am so grateful to have crossed paths with Bill so early in my career, practice his teaching to this day, and will continue to do so. Thank you for sharing him (and your family!) with us! You taught us so much, Paige

Paige Church

Hi Susan, my sincerest sympathy for the sad loss of Bill. I remember spending time with you and Bill in Israel. I have listened to several of Billâ??s talks, but I will remember him for the crazy and outraged titles of the abstracts he used to submit to SPR/PAS! He mentored many young people and will be remembered for his kind and ethical approach towards his patients. My best to Billâ??s family. Regards, Saroj

Saroj Saigal