William G. Bartholome, MD, MTS

February 19, 1944 - August 2, 1999

Dr. Bill came to the EC-Group with the "Angel of Death living on his shoulder." He was insightful, often controversial, and always willing to share his medical knowledge. His had an impact on everyone that he came into contact with. I had many good philosophical debates with Bill, and miss his presence a great deal. -- Marc

William Barthome's Writings and Public Posts to the EC-Group

WILLIAM GIBSON BARTHOLOME  Dr. William G.Bartholome,55, died August 2, 1999, at home. A memorial celebration will be 11 a.m. Friday, August 6, at St. Mark's Church, 1101 Euclid, Kansas City, MO, (816) 842-5454. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Mark's Child Care Center in care of the church.

Dr. Bartholome was born February 19, 1944, in Helena, MT, to Virginia and William F. Bartholome. His family moved to Kansas City in 1947. Bill attended Rockhurst High School and Rockhurst College, from which he graduated in 1965 with multiple honors including election to Alpha Sigma Nu honors society. He then attended the University of Kansas School of Medicine, where he received the Upjohn Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement, among other honors, and was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha HonorsSociety.

Bill completed his residency in pediatrics at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD (1969-1972). He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1972-1974. He was awarded the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Fellowship in Medical Ethics and completed two years of graduate studies at Harvard University, where he was granted a master's of theological studies in ethics degree in 1976. Bill served on the faculty of the University of Texas Medical School in Houston from 1976-1983. He practiced and taught both pediatrics and clinical ethics at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, IL, from 1983-1986.

He returned to Kansas City in 1986 to accept a faculty position at the University of Kansas Medical School. At the time of his death, he was professor of pediatrics in the department of history and philosophy of medicine. His scholarly work and service on the Committee of Bioethics of the American Academy of Pediatrics helped shape the emerging field of ethics and children's health. He received numerous awards for his teaching and presented over 300 invited lectures at colleges, universities, and medical centers in his short career in academic medicine. In 1995, he was inducted into the Rockhurst College Science Hall of Fame and was given the Founder's Award from the Midwest BioethicsCenter, where he had served as a member of the board since 1986. He also served on the board of the Kansas Committeefor the Humanities from 1988-1994.

Bill is survived by his devoted wife, Pamela Roffol Dobies; his three daughters, Bridget Bartholome, Kansas City, MO, Sheila and her husband, Jess Kraus, Kansas City, KS, and Claire Bartholome,of the home; stepson, Ian Dobies,Kansas City, MO; parents, William F. and Virginia Bartholome, Kansas City, MO; 11 siblings, Virginia and her husband William Rohan, Williamsburg, MA, Joan and her husband, Tom Liston, Kansas City, MO, Grace and her husband, Frank Hasibar, Ketchikan, AK, Patricia Bartholome,Kansas City, MO, Lou Bartholome and his wife, Alice Medley, St. Paul, MN, Cathy Bartholome and her husband, Nic Santos, Kansas City, MO, Anne Bartholome, Kansas City, MO, Helen and her husband, Peter Doval, West By, WI, Peter Bartholome and his wife, Denise Rupp, Golden Valley, MN, Paul Bartholome and his wife, Teresa, Kansas City, MO, and David Bartholome and his wife, Sandy, Wallisville, TX; 26 nieces and nephews; and four great-nieces and great-nephews.