He prepared at Sewanee Military Academy. At Princeton, he majored in basic engineering and joined Cannon Club.

After two years in the Army and four years running a plastics company, he was unexpectedly drawn to medicine, fulfilled pre-med requirements at the University of Wisconsin, entered Columbia Physicians and Surgeons in 1960, and earned a medical degree in 1964.

While interning at Roosevelt Hospital in New York City, he became interested in orthopedic surgery, which he described as “basically anatomy, carpentry, and mechanical engineering.” After residency at New York Orthopedic Hospital, Bill returned to practice at Roosevelt Hospital. In 1972, his expertise in treating foot and ankle injuries led to his appointment as orthopedist to the 400 dancers at Balanchine’s New York City Ballet, Baryshnikov’s American Ballet Theater, and their associate schools: the School of American Ballet, and the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theater. He also served as an orthopedic consultant for the New York Knicks and New York Yankees. 

He co-established and taught in the Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Fellowship program at the Hospital for Special Surgery for nearly 25 years, where he was appreciated for his exceptional teaching, clinical expertise, and witty “Hamiltonisms.”

Bill is survived by his wife of 37 years, Linda; his sons, William Jr. and Lewis; three grandchildren; and his sister, Ann Kirk.