William F. Bernart ’50

Bill died April 6, 2017, in Raleigh, N.C., where he had lived in recent years.

After graduating from Exeter, he enlisted in the Navy. At Princeton, he was vice president of Tiger Inn and an honors graduate in biology. He moved on to graduate from Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons with honors and to complete residencies in Boston, Puerto Rico, and Virginia.

Bill then forsook the big city and took his skills to the rural Eastern Shore of Virginia, specifically to Nassawadox, whose population at the time was 350 people. He practiced internal medicine there until 1991, and was instrumental in the building of a 125-bed hospital in the area.

He was deeply involved with many medical and community organizations and worked with the University of Virginia to encourage doctors to practice in rural areas. Habitat for Humanity was his major community interest. One of the 15 homes built during his leadership was named for him and his wife, Cynthia, whom he had married in 1954.

Bill enjoyed outdoors activities including fishing, tennis, and competitive sailing. With Cynthia, he shared bird-watching worldwide and removing trash along local roadways.

Bill is survived by Cynthia; daughter Sarah; sons William, Matthew, Christopher, and Douglas; and nine grandchildren.