William E. Hitselberger

May 2, 1930 - February 13, 2014 William E. Hitselberger M.D., age 83, of Seal Rock, Oregon and Pasadena, California died February 13, 2014. Bill was born May 2, 1930 in Washington D.C. to James and Helen Hitselberger and is survived by his wife Sue, eight children and five grandchildren. Dr. Hitselberger graduated from the University of Wisconsin where he was a junior Phi Beta Kappa and completed his Doctorate of Medicine at Harvard Medical School in 1956. After interning at the University of Minnesota, he served as a Captain in the US Army/Special Forces, returning to take a fellowship in neuropathology at the Mayo Clinic. Dr. Hitselberger completed his three year training in neurosurgery at the Henry Ford Hospital and in 1963 entered private practice in Los Angeles. In conjunction with William House M.D., Bill developed innovative approaches to skull base tumors. He performed more than 6000 surgeries to remove acoustic neuromas. He was a pioneer in developing the auditory brainstem implant and he directly, or indirectly, helped train most neurotologic surgeons in this country. He made a difference and will be greatly missed. His ashes will be placed with military honors at Arlington National Cemetery later this year. The date and time to be announced.