William Bason

William M. Bason CHESAPEAKE - William M. Bason, Captain, Medical Corps, U.S. Navy, 78, died suddenly on Sept. 18, 2010, from a devastating head injury after a fall. Capt. Bason was born in Yonkers, N.Y., the son of Josephine, on March 19, 1932. He graduated from Columbia University and went on to Downstate Medical School where he earned an M.D. in 1957. Following an internship at the Naval Hospital in Philadelphia, he had a brief tour of duty in Camp Lejeune, N.C., with the Fleet Marine Force, then went on to a residency program at the Chelsea Naval Hospital. Other tours of duty included the chief of Pediatrics at the Naval Hospital, Newport, R.I.; director of Pediatrics at the Portsmouth Naval Hospital; chief of Pediatrics at the Naval Hospital, Yokosuka, Japan; and the chairman, Department of Pediatrics at the Philadelphia Naval Hospital where he established the first military neonatal and pediatric intensive care unit for which he received the Presidential Medal for Meritorious Service. Capt. Bason completed his 26 years of military service in 1979. Following his military career, Capt. Bason assumed the position of director of Ambulatory Care at the Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters, Norfolk, then went on to medical director for Sentara Medical System. Capt. Bason was active in education throughout his career. He served as a consultant in Pediatrics at Tokyo University; professor of Pediatrics at Jefferson Medical School; and professor of Pediatrics at Eastern Virginia Medical School. He was also published in a number of journals including: "Complication of Circumcision Done with a Plastic Bell Clamp," Amer J Dis Child Vol. 116, Oct. 1968, "Renal Anomalies in the Newborn Found by Deep Palpitation," Pediatrics, Vol. 47, No. 1, Part 1, January 1971, "High Risk Perinatal Care-A Tri-service Concept," US Navy Medicine, September 1974, "Myoglobinura with Acute Renal Failure in Children Following Upper Repertory Tract Infection," Clinical Pediatrics, "The Technique of Transpyloric (Nasojejunal) Feeding," US Navy Medicine, pg 26, August 1977, and "Polyurethane Tubing for Transpyloric Intubation," Am J. Dis Child vol 131 July 1977. Capt. Bason was certified by the National Board of Medical Examiners and the American Board of Pediatrics. He was also a member of the Philadelphia Pediatric Society; the American Academy of Pediatrics; and the American Association of Poison Control Centers. Capt. Bason is survived by his wife, Elizabeth of 52 years; a brother, Robert Bason and his wife Paula of Virginia Beach; twin sons, Keith Bason of Rochester, N.Y. and Kent Bason and his wife Yvonne of Virginia Beach; a daughter, Kimberly and her husband J.P. of Miami, Fla.; four grandchildren, Brandon Bason, Elizabeth Balkus-Coirin, Jonathon and Jason Tetterton. A funeral Mass will be conducted at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 22, at the Resurrection Catholic Church, Portsmouth. The family will receive friends at the Snellings Funeral Home, 5815 High St., Portsmouth, on Tuesday, Sept. 21, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Donations may be made to the American Heart Association in honor of Bill Bason. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.snellingsfuneralhome. com.