Dr. William Kirby, UW Professor, Dies At 82

Nothing held more allure for William M.M. Kirby than tracing infectious diseases and finding the perfect antibiotic to treat them.

For five decades, he shared his passion with students at University of Washington Medical School. He also shared it with his children: All three became physicians.

"He would come home every day from work when we were 6, 7, 8 years old and at dinner describe actual cases in which we would have to diagnose the ailment from the symptoms he told us," said his son, Richard Kirby, of Seattle. "It taught us how to think, keep an open mind and love medicine. He approached it like a great mystery to be solved."

Dr. Kirby died of unknown natural causes at his Seattle home last Sunday (Aug. 31). He was 82.

He pioneered the early study of how antibiotics affect bacteria, and, even after retiring in 1985, continued to follow research and go to UW labs to check test results.

Dr. Kirby began his medical career soon after the discovery of penicillin in the late 1930s. He was known for his work on the team that developed a fast, efficient way to detect which antibiotic to use for a specific infection.

In 1977 he earned the Bristol Award from the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the most prestigious award in that field.

"The important thing about Bill was not so much his great talent, but that he did everything with such enthusiasm," said Henry Rosen, acting chairman of the UW Department of Medicine.

Born in Springfield, S.D., Dr. Kirby earned a bachelor of science degree at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn. He earned his doctor of medicine degree from Cornell University in 1940 and did residency work at Stanford University, then served as an Army medic, contributing to many early studies of penicillin from 1944 to 1947.

After leaving the service he taught at Stanford, then was recruited by the new Department of Medicine in the UW School of Medicine.

"Bill Kirby was a vital, living link to some of the earliest days of our school," said Paul Ramsey, UW vice president for medical affairs and dean of the Medical School.

Other survivors include his sister, Alice Dixon of Orlando, Fla.; children Barbara Kirby of Edmonds and Philip Kirby of Seattle; and two grandchildren. His wife of 34 years, Georgiana Kirby, died in 1978.

A memorial gathering is scheduled at 4 p.m. Sept. 22 in Hogness

Auditorium at the UW Health Sciences Center.

Remembrances may be sent to the William Kirby Visiting Professorship in Infectious Diseases, UW School of Medicine, Box 358220, Seattle, WA 98195.

Carole Beers' phone message number is 206-464-2391. Her e-mail address is: cbee-new@seatimes.com