William Thomas McKenna

1922 - 2017

William Thomas McKenna

Nashville - William Thomas McKenna, M.D., 95, of Palo Alto, California, passed away peacefully on Tuesday December 5, 2017 at Richland Health Center, Nashville, Tennessee. Born February 10, 1922 to Jay and Nora McKenna in Austin, Minnesota, Dr. McKenna earned his undergraduate and medical degrees and completed residency training in internal medicine at the University of Minnesota. Dr. McKenna was commissioned in the U.S. Naval Reserves in 1943 as a 1st year medical student and entered active duty in 1947 as a general medical officer. He served in the Naval Reserves until 1959.

Dr. McKenna practiced medicine with his father and sister in La Jolla, California until 1960 when he relocated to Palo Alto, California. He practiced internal medicine in Palo Alto for 29 years until retirement in 1989. He was extraordinarily devoted to his patients and could be frequently found making house calls for his patients with mobility and transportation challenges. He had an insatiable appetite for learning, and when not with patients he could often be found in the stacks of the Stanford University Lane Medical Library studying about a perplexing patient or brushing up on a general topic of interest.

Dr. McKenna's commitment to life-long learning went well beyond science and medicine as he was passionate about the classics and poetry. Even in his last months of life he enjoyed reciting his favorite Robert Browning poems. He spent hours studying the game of bridge. Always interested in the French language, he studied French grammar and vocabulary even into his final year of life. Dr. McKenna also loved music and, as an adult, taught himself to play the piano. He particularly loved the music of George Gershwin and Frédéric Chopin and the artistry of Oscar Peterson. Dr. McKenna brought his diverse interests and love of reading, learning, and music to his children.

Dr. McKenna is survived by his son Samuel Jay McKenna, D.D.S., M.D. (Elaine), and daughters Anne Trowbridge McKenna (David Kellett), Sarah B. Broadbent (William), Wendy Cole Holly (Gregory), 9 grandchildren, and many great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Mary Ann McKenna, son William Percy McKenna, father Jay King McKenna, M.D., mother Nora Elizabeth McKenna, and sister Elizabeth Mary McKenna, M.D.

A future graveside service will take place in Waseca, Minnesota and then, later in Palo Alto, a celebration of Dr. McKenna's life.

The family is deeply grateful for the care provided by the kind and loving staff of Richland Health Center, Vanderbilt Medical Center physicians and staff, and his many loyal friends. Please visit our online obituary at www.marshalldonnellycombs.com.