Dr. William "Bill" Harbison

1944 - 2026

Dr. William "Bill" Harbison
1944 - 2026
Longmeadow
Bill Harbison, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, passed away peacefully at the age of 81 from complications of an aortic dissection.
Born on Christmas in 1944 in Chicago to Frederick "Fizz" and Josephine Harbison, Bill grew up in Princeton, New Jersey, with his brothers Ralph and Henry. His early years were shaped by travel, as the family accompanied Fizz, an economics professor, on research trips throughout Africa and Europe. Summers were spent in Willsboro, New York, where Bill forged a lifelong connection to Lake Champlain, Highlands Lake, and the Adirondacks.
He attended the Lawrenceville School and spent a year in England as an exchange student before graduating from Oberlin College. He then went on to study medicine at Columbia University. In New York City, he met his wife, Marsha, a violin graduate student at Juilliard. Together, they shared a love of music and adventure, often escaping the city in his hand-painted VW bug.
After his medical training, Bill and Marsha were married and moved to Gallup, New Mexico, where he served in the Indian Health Service caring for patients on the Navajo Reservation. While there, they explored the West with their free-spirited Irish Setter and shared more than a few hair-raising adventures in their Blazer.
Bill completed his cardiology fellowship at McGill University while Marsha played violin in the Montreal Symphony. In 1977, they moved to Longmeadow, Massachusetts, where they transitioned to minivans and golden retrievers, raised their children, Heidi, Chris, and Rick, and built a close-knit community of friends.
Bill devoted more than 40 years to an inspiring career as a cardiologist with Pioneer Valley Cardiology in Springfield. Renowned for his compassionate care, he left a legacy of lifting spirits and going above and beyond for his patients and their families. A widely respected teacher, he found deep satisfaction mentoring and sharing his patient-centered values with the next generation of physicians. After retiring, he served on the admissions committee at UMass Medical School and continued caring for patients at the Volunteers in Medicine free clinic. He was also infamous among family and friends for making "house calls," sometimes unannounced, often on his bike.
A lifelong lover of music, Bill was an avid amateur violist. He and Marsha often performed together and enjoyed bringing music to the community. They helped co-found the Longmeadow Chamber Music Society and organized annual concerts benefiting the Adirondack Nature Conservancy and Land Trust. Bill also sang for many years in the Springfield Symphony Chorus and the Wilbraham Community Chorus and was a devoted supporter of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra. In recent years, he served as president of the Valley Classical Concerts board. Throughout his life, he inspired and encouraged his children and grandchildren to pursue music in their own lives.
He took an active role in his community and was an engaged member of the First Church of Christ, the Field Club, the Century Club, and the Gladden Club. He enjoyed organizing an annual community bike sale to benefit a Longmeadow environmental group.
Above all, Bill valued family and lifelong friendships. He was the ultimate camp director, organizing trips with friends and rallying the family for outings. He coached sports he never played, enthusiastically attended countless games, concerts, and milestones, and found joy in everyday moments with family and friends. He forged individual bonds with each of his nine grandchildren and made it his mission to bring the family together whenever possible.
Beloved for his exuberant personality, humorous antics, intellectual curiosity, and wide-ranging hobbies, he will be fondly remembered as "Wild Bill." Whether doing plank exercises with grandchildren on his back or cross-country skiing through the woods with his dog, he was always in motion. Regardless of the season, he began each day with a dip in the lake, a tradition his family continues.
His boundless energy for life inspired those around him to get active, embrace new experiences, and face their fears. His legacy of kindness and compassion lives on through his family, friends, and all who knew him.
Bill is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Marsha (Garbisch) Harbison; his children, Heidi Harbison Kimberly (W. Taylor Kimberly); Chris Harbison (Amy Harbison); and Rick Harbison (Heidi Walls); his cherished grandchildren, Elsa, Erika, Clara, Cliff, Evelyn, Jane, Henry, Willa, and Hannah; his cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents and brothers.
We wish to thank his many caregivers at Baystate Medical Center. A memorial service will be held at the First Church of Christ in Longmeadow on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at 11 am.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of Dr. William Harbison to the Adirondack Land Trust, Baystate Health Foundation, the First Church of Christ in Longmeadow, the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, Valley Classical Concerts, or Volunteers in Medicine. Forastiere Smith Funeral & Cremation, East Longmeadow has been entrusted with arrangements. For online condolences please visit www.forastiere.com.