William MAXFIELD

1930 - 2021

MAXFIELD, William Streeter MD 90, of Odessa, died on the evening of March 25, 2021, surrounded by his family. He was a son of Texas who also lived in Washington, D.C., New Orleans, and Tampa. His love for medicine was topped only by his love for his family. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Patricia; his three daughters, Melissa Maxfield, Maura Smith (Reed Smith), Melinda Maxfield; and his beloved granddaughter Mary-Streeter Smith. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. and Mrs. James Robert Maxfield, Sr. (Marie Streeter) and his older siblings, James Robert Maxfield, Jr., MD, George Streeter "Jack" Maxfield, MD, and Marie Streeter Maxfield. Bill had a love for antique cars, dogs, travel, woodworking, art, sailing, and the NASA space program. He was born May 9, 1930 in Waco, TX and moved to Dallas, TX at the age of nine where he later attended Highland Park High School graduating in 1946 at the age of 16. Bill attended Southern Methodist University where he majored in Psychology with a minor in Comparative Literature and was a member of Kappa Alpha Order. After graduating SMU, he attended Baylor University College of Medicine from 1950-1954. Bill continued in the family tradition of specializing in Radiology and did his medical internship at Southern Pacific General Hospital in San Francisco, CA. Bill met Patricia while they were both visiting Acapulco, Mexico in July 1955. They married in November 1957 in Gulfport, MS. Bill served in the U.S. Navy from August 1956- July 1959 and was a Medical Officer in the Naval Reserves from 1959-1964. During his Navy service, he helped establish the Nuclear Medicine program and served as Chief, Nuclear Medicine Division at the U.S. Navy Hospital in Chelsea, MA and as Chief, Nuclear Medicine Division at the U.S. Navy Hospital in Bethesda, MD. Following his active-duty service he entered his Radiology Residency at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD in 1959 where he was Assistant Resident and a National Institute of Health Clinical Fellow in Cancer. In 1961, Bill was Chief of Radiation Therapy, at The Johns Hopkins Hospital and Assistant Professor of Radiology at The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Bill continued teaching as a Clinical Professor of Radiology at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans and concurrently was Chief, Radiation Therapy Department and Co-Chairman Biophysics Laboratory at Ochsner Clinic and Ochsner Foundation Hospital in New Orleans. Later he was Professor and Chairman, Department of Radiology, Louisiana State University Medical School in New Orleans. Bill went on to open private practices for Radiation Therapy and Nuclear Medicine in New Orleans and Tampa and then later in Largo, FL. Bill also served as the first Medical Director for Hospice of Pinellas. Additionally, Bill was pioneer in the field of Hyperbaric Medicine. In 1980, he brought the first monoplace Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy chambers to the Tampa Bay area at his practice in Largo. He was a co-founder of the American College of Hyperbaric Medicine in 1983 and became a founding member of the American Board of Hyperbaric Medicine as well as the International Hyperbaric Medicine Association. Later in his career, he did radiology locum tenens and practiced teleradiology until his retirement. Bill was a kind, tolerant, and nurturing man whose dedication to medicine and helping others was only matched by his dedication to his family. Bill and Patricia enjoyed traveling and loved visiting museums and art exhibits worldwide. Bill attended numerous space shots at Cape Canaveral from Gemini - Space Shuttle program. He was a doting husband and father who took delight in his role of grandfather to his only grandchild. Forever a Texan he was known for wearing cowboy boots daily. At his core Bill was a teacher; always taking the time to listen and share his knowledge with others about medicine or one of his other passions. He was a lifelong Episcopalian. Bill will be deeply missed by his family and friends but will remain forever in our hearts. He is buried at a family cemetery in Troy, AL. A memorial service will be held at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church Tampa 11 am April 16. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Metropolitan Ministries Tampa in his honor via www.metromin.org.