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William A. Gardner, Jr. 1939-2011

The field of pathology lost one of its bright and guiding lights suddenly and unexpectedly on October 2, 2011, with the passing of Dr. William A. Gardner, Jr. Bill was born and raised in South Carolina where he graduated from Wofford College and the Medical University of South Carolina (where, in addition to his medical degree, he obtained a masters degree in anatomy). Following residency training at Johns Hopkins and Duke, he stepped directly into the role of chief of service at the VA in Charleston, SC, in 1969. He then took the same position in Nashville in 1976, where he was also vice chair at Vanderbilt. In 1981, he became chair at the University of South Alabama, a position he held for 21 years, and in 2002, he accepted the role as executive director of the American Registry of Pathology, where he was continuing full time, highly challenging work at age 72.

He served as president of the USCAP, Association of Pathology Chairs, and History of Pathology Society, and was very active in the International Academy of Pathology and many other organizations. He had over 100 full-length manuscripts and chapters with a special focus on the prostate; he had over 30 invited lectures and presentations just on prostatic pathology. He had a unique ability to see what others might overlook; for example, he was the first to report (with one of his residents) spermatozoa in the prostate, and being Bill, he followed it up with a similar study on squirrel monkeys. He received a Fulbright Award to teach prostatic pathology and other areas in the Slovak Republic in 1996-97. He was a dedicated and incredibly enthusiastic teacher and mentor, and inspired many students to enter pathology. Three of his students went on to become pathology chairs – from just one of his classes! And he provided invaluable and helpful advice and insights to many organizations, and, more important, to many, many in the field. He was a classical Southern gentleman with a great sense of humor and the ability to provide outstandingly entertaining presentations – extemporaneously, when need be! He was a consummate family man, devoted to his wonderful and engaging wife Ann, his three remarkable children and their equally remarkable spouses, and his seven grandchildren that he so adored. On a personal note, he was a great friend who always made me and my family feel like part of his family. He will be so terribly missed.