Dr. Bill Watts was passionate advocate for patients' rights

Dr. Bill Watts was one of those rare men who, when they spoke, always had something worthwhile to say.

Opinionated, articulate and well-informed, Dr. Watts was highly sought after for his engaging and clever conversation. He was always thinking, always spinning yarns, his sons remember. He was a product of the Great Depression who went on to become a third-generation physician, eminent Seattle internist and revered teacher of medicine. He will be remembered by many as a passionate advocate for his patients' right to choose, and to die with dignity.

Dr. Watts died of pneumonia May 12, shortly after his 85th birthday.

As president of the Washington State Medical Association, Dr. Watts became a leader in medical politics, single-handedly changing the WSMA from a passive, sit-back-and-watch organization into a politically active one, said Dr. Rick Johnson, who practiced medicine with him for seven years and was a subsequent president of the medical association.

He led by example, attacking the two biggest, most controversial issues of the day — abortion and the right to die — even though his practice sat right next door to the chancery of the Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle. He was known as a prolific writer of letters to the editor, a vocal supporter of a woman's right to choose and went on to champion Washington legislation on abortion that was seen as a precursor to Roe v. Wade.

"I can remember as a kid in high school that he was on the radio talk shows," said son Ted. "I'd listen to these things, and people would say awful things about him."

But despite the controversies, Dr. Watts was never afraid to speak out on issues he cared about.

He tried to help his patients achieve natural life and natural death. He hated to see patients languishing on life support, and became actively involved in right-to-die issues.

Family and friends said he spent his life making an impact on the generations of patients he treated, on the students he taught, the medicine he practiced, the causes he fought for and the six sons he raised.

"Medicine is a gentle profession," he would tell his sons. Soft-spoken and reassuring, Dr. Watts was called "the Sleuth" by many of this patients for his capable and accurate diagnostic skills. He carried his medical bag with him to his many house calls and made himself available to patients and friends after-hours.

"There are so many Genghis Khan-type people running down the hallway, barking orders," said son Bill, who is also a doctor. "He taught me that you sit, you listen, you counsel."

As a teacher at Swedish Medical Center, Dr. Watts was popular with the students and residents as well as patients. Johnson said Dr. Watts always enjoyed having philosophical discussions with the students while making rounds.

"He was very astute," said Johnson, who called Dr. Watts his mentor. "He knew how to treat the whole patient, not just the disease. You learn the facts of medicine at school, but you learn the art of medicine from people like Bill Watts."

Dr. Watts was born in Chicago in 1917, the son and grandson of pioneering physicians of the Pacific Northwest. He was raised in Seattle, attending Montlake Grade School, Garfield High and the UW before attending Harvard Medical School. His sons call their father a consummate card player, who taught them poker, bridge, gin rummy and chess.

During World War II, Dr. Watts was a doctor on the USS Haggard, a destroyer that saw action in the South Pacific and survived a Japanese kamikaze attack. The attack permanently damaged his hearing.

"He saw life and indiscriminate death aboard that ship, and I think it affected him the rest of his life," said Bill Watts.

Sailing was important to Dr. Watts. He would always take care to shut down the professional side of his life to take his family out on his boat, the Grey Gull.

"He made friends with all the old salts of Puget Sound," said Ted Watts. "He'd go into some hidden harbor and suddenly, everybody would be his friend."

Dr. Watts is survived by his wife of 62 years, Kay, five sons: Ted, John, Bill, Dave and Raleigh, and 10 grandchildren. Donations can be made to the John L. Locke, Jr. Heart Center, Swedish Medical Center. At his request, there will be no service.