Surgeon Walter De Groot Dies At 65

The world lost a potentially brilliant conductor but gained a master vascular surgeon when Walter Paul de Groot switched careers.

The well-known specialist not only pioneered techniques said to ease pain and speed healing in varicose-vein procedures, but he also did consulting work and co-founded the North American Society of Phlebology.

"He started out wanting to be a musician, studying under the conductor of the Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra," said brother Gunther de Groot of Lafayette, Calif. "But when he was about to graduate as a conductor, he realized it would not satisfy him cerebrally."

So Dr. de Groot opted for medicine. Music remained his second love; he studied piano the rest of his life. He died July 24 at age 65 of a ruptured aortic aneurysm.

Dr. de Groot, who retained his Old World manners, also was fond of languages. He spoke nine, and knew Greek and Latin.

Born in Amsterdam, he earned his medical degree at the University of Amsterdam in 1959. He spent two years as a surgeon at Seattle's Virginia Mason Clinic, then started a private practice. In the early 1980s he worked in Saudi Arabia. Afterward, he became interested in phlebology (the treatment of veins).

Dr. de Groot re-opened his Seattle practice in 1984. His office manager, Victoria Benvegnu, said his practice was highly successful. "People would say to him, `You're one of the best.' He'd say, half-joking, `I AM the best!' "

Survivors include his wife, Katalin de Groot, and a son, Michael de Groot, of Seattle. Remembrances may be made to Swedish Hospice, c/o Swedish Medical Center, P.O. Box 14999, Seattle, WA 98114.