William Hall Gernon M.D.'s Obituary
William H. Gernon, MD
COL, US Army Retired
Born March 26, 1938 Urbana, IL to John H. Gernon, MD and Lydia Pask Gernon, died December 20, 2010. Bill grew up in Champaign, IL, the youngest of three children. His parents, brother and sister predeceased him. Following high school at Culver Military Academy, Bill was educated at the University of Chicago, receiving a BS in 1959 and an MD in 1963. Following internship he was drafted into the US Army Medical Corps, beginning a 22 1/2 year military career. Residency training in Otolaryngology at Walter Reed Army Medical Center preceded memorable tours at the US Military Academy Hospital, West Point; 5th General Hospital, Stuttgart, Germany; and Madigan Army Medical Center, where he became Chief of the ENT service until retiring in 1987 with the rank of Colonel. He was awarded the Legion of Merit upon retirement. Three days later he joined the staff of Group Health, beginning a 12 year career including several years as Chief of ENT Service at Tacoma Specialty Center. A Board Certified Otolaryngologist, Bill was a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and Diplomate of the American Academy of Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery and the American Academy of Otology.
Bill was known as an outstanding surgeon. His earliest surgical training came in the operating room with his father when he was a teenager. He was the son, grandson and great-grandson of surgeons and physicians in a direct line for seven generations. Bill's compassionate dedication to his patients was well known; training residents at Madigan was one of his greatest joys.
Bill's variety of interests and hobbies classify him as a modern day Renaissance man. A skilled fisherman, he netted 84 steelhead in Western Washington rivers one year in the 80's and spent an annual week of salmon fishing with his sons, grandchildren or friends in Ketchikan, AK. Fishing with grandpa in Alaska became a rite of passage for the grandchildren. These trips were some of his happiest moments. Many proclaimed his smoked and grilled salmon the best they had ever eaten. Bill also was an accomplished marksman, hunting doves, pheasants and grouse in his youth and into adulthood. He immersed himself in Civil War, WW II and family history, collected antique clocks which he lovingly repaired and restored, and in later years took up woodcarving. He loved his various rescued kitties; they returned the affection. He excelled at golf, and was justifiably proud of his par on the Road Hole at The Old Course at St. Andrew's, Scotland during a 1997 trip with his eldest son.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 49 years, Norma Andrea -Å"Andie- Schmidt Gernon and by four wonderful sons: John (Dr. Rebecca Brienza), Southport, CT; Stephen (Kati) and Will, Tacoma; and Thomas -Å"TJ-, the 8th generation Gernon physician, Seattle. Three adored grandchildren, Lex, Tori and Peter, live in Tacoma. Bill was very proud of his family and loyal to his friends. He was a man of complete honesty and integrity, and a lifelong practicing Catholic.
The family gratefully acknowledges the many physicians, nurses and caregivers at Group Health, Patriot's Landing, St. Joseph's Hospital and Franciscan Hospice House who cared for Bill in his final years.
A funeral Mass will celebrate Bill's life at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 30, 2010, at St. Frances Cabrini Church, 5505 108th St., Lakewood, followed by interment in Tahoma National Cemetery. Visitation will take place at the Celebration of Life Chapel at Mountain View on Weds. Dec. 29, from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. The family suggests contributions to Franciscan Hospice, the Alzheimer's Association, Group Health Foundation or Community Health Care Patient Care Fund. Arrangements by Mountain View Funeral Home www.mountainviewtacoma.com
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