Wallace Ring

1932 - 2024

Wallace H. Ring

1932-2024

Salt Lake City, UT-Our hearts are bursting with sadness and love as we announce the passing of Wallace Ring, who left us for parts unknown on December 26, 2024.

Wallace was born in 1932 in Chicago, Illinois to Harold and Violet Ring. Harold, a joiner for the Pullman Company and a carpenter, moved his family to Boulder, Colorado in the 1940s, and Wallace graduated from Boulder High. In 1957 he received his medical degree from the University of Colorado School of Medicine, where he had met and married his first wife, Alice. They had three children together.

After medical school, Wallace served two years as liaison medical officer in Fürstenfeldbruck, Germany and in 1960 began his medical residency in anesthesia at the University of Utah school of medicine. He had a long career in anesthesia, practicing at the University Hospital, Primary Children's Hospital, and LDS Hospital. A pioneer in the field, he was co-inventor of the RAE (Ring, Adair, Elwyn) endotracheal tube still used in anesthesia today. Together with two other anesthesiologists, John Adair and Harry Wong, he created and ran one of the first freestanding surgical centers in the country and the first in Utah. In 1983, Wallace married his second wife, Sylvia, and they later divorced. Before retiring from medicine, he worked as medical director for the medical device company, Becton-Dickinson. A true Renaissance man, he was also a philosopher, businessman, writer, poet, skier, inventor, traveler, outdoorsman, educator, and activist. His list of achievements is long and storied, too many to enumerate, and no single one representative of the entirety of his extremely full life.

Wally had strong opinions, a brilliant mind, and an incredible memory. He could debate and/or hold forth on practically any subject. The only thing he loved more than a stimulating conversation was his family. He cared for his parents in their later years and was incredibly generous and giving to his family and extended family. He leaves behind a sister, Myrna; children, Rebecca (Michel), Eric (Barbie), Mark (Amy); grandchildren Bianca (Alex), Olivia (Michael), Hannah, and Aaron; stepdaughter Rachael (Chris); and beloved nieces and nephews. He was overjoyed at the recent news of a great-grandchild-to-be, due in June. He introduced his family to the outdoors and initiated the tradition of family Lake Powell houseboating trips. We hope to continue the tradition, and though it will never be the same without him, we trust Wallace/Wally/Dad/Grandpa/Opa/Uncle Doc will be with us in spirit.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. For those wishing to attend, please email the family at wallaceringcelebration@markring.com, and we will notify you once a date is set.