William Willson Angell M.D.

1935 - 2022

William Willson Angell, MD
April 1, 1935 - June 20, 2022
Resident of Tampa, FL
Dr. William Willson Angell passed away on June 20 at the age of 87. Bill was born on April 1, 1935 to Harry Kenyon Angell and Martha Willson Angell in Cortland, New York. He was the second of three brothers, and the children tragically lost both parents before Bill turned ten. They were taken in by their aunt, Mary Willson, who moved the boys to a hunting cabin in rural Crosby, Pennsylvania, beginning Bill's lifelong love of the outdoors.
Bill graduated from Smethport High School, where he helped set a four-man relay state record that stood for nearly fifty years. He attended college at Cornell and, rather than follow in his father's footsteps as a lawyer, pursued a medical degree at the University of Rochester. After graduation, Bill married Nancy Smith and moved to California for his residency at Stanford. Bill and Nancy had 3 children, Cathy (1963), Scott (1965), and Craig (1968).
During his surgery residency, Bill completed a pathology fellowship in Scotland. After residency he completed a cardiovascular surgery fellowship at Stanford with the renowned heart surgeon Norman Shumway. Bill's research led to Dr. Shumway's completion of the first successful heart transplant in the United States and third in history. From there, Bill earned independent medical fame for his research into pig heart valve preservation for human transplant. He formed a company for this purpose, Bravo, and it is likely that patients are alive today with an Angell valve keeping them going.
Bill practiced at virtually all the hospitals in the South Bay. He trained at Stanford and worked at the Palo Alto VA. After training he worked at the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, continuing his research there as well, in the 1960's and 1970's. He also operated at Alexian Brothers Hospital, now Regional Medical Center. In the early '70's he and his partner Robert Wuerflein started Western Heart Associates at O'Connor Hospital, an innovative concept with a group of physicians that provided state of the art care for cardiac patients of all ages, and gathered and published data on outcomes of CABG's, valve repair and replacement, and congenital heart defect repair. The group included Pediatric and Adult Cardiologists as well as the Cardiac Surgeons (who operated on babies and children since Pediatric Cardiac Surgery wasn't yet a specialty). After Western Heart dissolved, he continued to perform cardiothoracic procedures in the late 1970's and early 1980's with his partner Cree Pillsbury, at Good Samaritan Hospital.
Bill married his second wife, Judith Damir, and they moved to San Diego in 1982. They had two children, Derek (1982) and Braden (1983). After a decade at Scripps Clinic, the family relocated to Tampa where Bill treated countless patients at many Tampa Bay Area hospitals. He ultimately partnered with Dr. Lester Ordiway, forming Angell & Ordiway, a cardiothoracic surgical practice, that continues operation. Bill never retired, and his remarkable six-decade career will forever inspire us.
Bill was a man incredibly dedicated to his work, yet he somehow found time to live a rich and varied personal life. He was an avid snow skier, scuba diver, boater, sport fisherman, sculler, bicyclist, runner, and, having never touched a club before his 75th birthday, golfer. He was the youngest 87-year-old the world has ever known, and he is gone too soon.
Bill was predeceased by his parents and brothers, George and Jim. He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, nephews, niece, and cousins. A lovely service was held in Tampa on July 23.


View the online memorial for William Willson Angell, MD