Obituary of William Bernard Kinlaw, M.D.

William Bernard Kinlaw ("Bernie"), physician, educator, hospital leader, and devoted family man, died at age 89 years of complications of chronic leukemia. The son of William Bernard Kinlaw Sr., MD, and Dorothy Weisener Kinlaw, Bernie was born on December 13th, 1925 in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. His family moved to Germantown, Pennsylvania after his father died in 1937, and he made many lifelong friends there before graduating from Germantown High School. Bernie enlisted in the U. S. Navy at the advent of WWII, and earned both a college degree at Ursinus College and a Medical degree at Thomas Jefferson University in the accelerated 6 year Naval V12 program, graduating after the war ended. He subsequently served as a Navy physician at bases in Carlisle PA and Newport RI, rising to the rank of Lieutenant JG. He completed his residency in internal medicine at Hartford Hospital in Hartford CN, and his cardiology training at a Yale-based program at the Veterans Administration Hospital in West Haven CT. In 1948 he married Marcia Elizabeth Baur, of Philadelphia, to whom he remained devoted for the rest of his life. They had two children: William Bernard Kinlaw III M.D., and Wendy Kinlaw Creamer. In 1955 the family moved to Abington, Pennsylvania, where Bernie founded a group practice associated with Abington Memorial Hospital, which steadily expanded to become the current Abington Medical Specialists, and now has 18 staff physicians. Bernie served in major leadership roles at Abington Memorial Hospital, including co-chair of the Division of Cardiology, Chair of the Department of Medicine, Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program, and as a longstanding member of the Medical Staff Executive Committee. He was a canny diagnostician and a beloved clinical educator for a large number of medical students, residents, and cardiology fellows at both Abington Memorial Hospital and Thomas Jefferson University. Bernie retired from medical practice in 1990. The couple ultimately resided at Foulkeways in Gwynedd, PA, where they made scores of new friends, and Bernie produced a series of educational programs focused on aspects of physiology and medicine for his fellow Foulkeways residents. Bernie had a rich variety of interests outside of his medical career, including tennis, golf, and piloting small aircraft. He was a master sailor, and voyaged primarily in the Chesapeake Bay, often with his grandchildren. In later years he joined a group in Gwynedd committed to the restoration of classic aircraft from the 1930's and 40's to flight-worthy condition. He also loved to travel and had seen 6 continents. William Bernard Kinlaw Jr. died peacefully on October 6th in the presence of friends and family. He is survived by his wife Marcia, two children, four grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers please contribute to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, The Philip Merrill Environmental Center, 6 Herndon Ave., Annapolis, MD 21403 (www.CBF.org). A memorial service will be held at 2 pm on October 17th in the main auditorium at Foulkeways, 1120 Meetinghouse Road in Gwynedd, PA.