WILLIAM K. ABEND M.D.

ABEND, William K., MD Age 67 years, of Newton on Saturday, September 21, 2013. William (Bill) is survived by his loving wife Phyllis (Weiss), devoted children Nicholas Abend and his wife, Gayle Chesley, of Philadelphia, PA and Katherine Abend and her husband, Kevin Wallace, of Washington, DC, cherished grandchildren Jack and Alexander Abend and Anna Wallace, beloved mother Esther Abend, brother Stephen Abend and his wife, Barbara, of Kansas City, MO, sister-in-law May March and her husband, Walter, of Chicago, IL, brother-in-law Bernard Weiss and his wife, Beverly, of Sarasota, FL, and many nieces, nephews and cousins throughout the United States and Israel. Bill was born on May 26, 1946 in Kansas City, Missouri to Esther and the late Joseph S. Abend, who had immigrated to the United States from Poland with other family members prior to the war. Bill attended Southwest High School and went on to graduate from the University of Michigan, College of Engineering in 1968 with a major in Electrical Engineering. He earned his PhD in Neurophysiology and his MD from the University of Chicago in 1976. Bill completed his neurology training at the Harvard hospitals of the Longwood Neurology Training Program in Boston, MA and continued research at MIT. He was a staff neurologist at the Brigham and Women's Hospital and also a Clinical Assistant Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School. In 1990, Bill joined Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates Department of Neurology and worked at the Wellesley and Chelmsford Medical Centers. He received multiple awards for his clinical expertise, including the Paul Solomon Peer Recognition Award from Harvard Vanguard, which honors physicians and other clinicians for their outstanding contributions through clinical excellence, patient service, teaching, or research. Bill was a knowledgeable and devoted caregiver who took the time to support patients and their families. He was appreciated for his gentle demeanor as he cared for countless patients and offered comfort in times of fear and uncertainty. He was described by colleagues as a person of integrity and character. Bill placed family as his highest priority. He enjoyed spending time outdoors with Phyllis and his two children, and he was especially fond of hiking with his family in wilderness areas. As his children became adults, Bill took great pleasure in discussing their professional interests, and also playing with and teaching his grandchildren. He valued maintaining solidarity among his extended family, and over the years he made it a point to attend many family events across the country. Services will be held on Monday, September 23 at Levine Chapels, 470 Harvard Street, BROOKLINE, at 1:00pm. Interment at Or Emet Cemetery, 776 Baker Street, West Roxbury. Following interment, the family will receive visitors at his late residence through 9pm, and continuing Tuesday 7-9pm with Minyan at 7:30pm each day. In lieu of flowers, Bills family asks that you consider a donation to the Temple Emanuel General Fund, 385 Ward Street, Newton, MA, 02459 or to the Jewish Community Foundation, 5801 West 115th Street, Suite 104, Overland Park, Kansas, 66211, Allen Abend Scholarship Fund in memo section. Levine Chapels, Brookline 617-277-8300 www.levinechapel.com