Gordon B. McWilliams, 82

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Gordon B. McWilliams, 82, of 138 Bulkley St. died Wednesday, March 23, 2011, at home after a long illness.

Born in New York City on May 1, 1928, son of Dr. Norman B. McWilliams and Dorothy Brown McWilliams, he was raised in Williamstown, where his father was a well-known surgeon and family physician, as well as the physician for Williams College. He attended Pine Cobble School, Deerfield Academy, Williams College and Columbia University, from which he received a master's degree in hospital administration.

An Army veteran of the Korean War, he served as a sergeant, first class.

Mr. McWilliams was named administrator of Middlesex Memorial Hospital in Middletown, Conn., in 1966, and became president and chief executive officer in 1969, a position he held until 1990. During his tenure, Middlesex earned the trust and respect of the community as a responsive, friendly and innovative institution where personal care of high quality was combined with professional excellence and modern technology.
He began his career at Jefferson Medical College and Hospital and Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia.

Being aware of the importance of education and anticipating probable shortages of qualified health-care professionals, he oversaw the restructuring of the Ona M. Wilcox School of Nursing to a free-standing college of nursing. He initiated the Family Practice Residency Program, which became one of the finest in the country, to prepare qualified physicians for the community and profession. He was a Fellow of the American College of Hospital Administrators, served as president of the Connecticut Hospital Association, was a director for Connecticare and Voluntary Hospitals of America, and was a member of Middlesex Visiting Nurse and Home Health Services Association.

Mr. McWilliams' extensive contributions to the Middletown community included serving as United Way president and campaign chairman, as trustee of the Rockfall Corp., as president of the board of the Middletown YMCA, as director of the Liberty Bank for Savings and of the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce. He was an active member of Rotary International and was club president in 1977. He was also a director of the Head of the Connecticut Regatta. In 1985, he was elected regent for Connecticut by the American College of Healthcare Executives in recognition of his administrative ability.

He was honored with many awards, including the Middlesex County United Way Service Award in 1983, Middlesex County Distinguished Citizen of the Year in 1985, and the Dr. T. Stewart Hamilton Distinguished Service Award by the Connecticut Hospital Association in 1990. The computer area of the Middlesex Memorial Hospital Library is named the Gordon B. McWilliams Research Center.

He and his wife, the former Sigrid Spro, returned in 1998 to Williamstown, where he continued his life of service. He held a number of leadership roles at St. John's Episcopal Church, including senior warden, chairman of the Campaign for St. John's, chairman of the Building Committee, member of the Finance Committee and as an usher. He was a member of the board and president of Village Ambulance Service and a longtime volunteer fund-raiser for Deerfield Academy and Williams College.

A lifelong outdoorsman and athlete, Mr. McWilliams played on the All-American lacrosse team, was captain of the lacrosse and ski teams at Williams and throughout his life enjoyed hiking, fishing, hunting, riding, boating, and skiing, all with great zeal. He was a member of the Hammonasset Fishing Association in Connecticut for many years. A world traveler, he was happiest at his extended family's camp in the Adirondacks.

All who knew Mr. McWilliams, professionally or personally, agreed with the words written for his retirement celebration describing him as "blessed with personal qualities of sensitivity, fairness, and decency as a caring human being, combined with years of professional experience, leadership ability, and dedication ... ."

In addition to his wife, a native of Norway whom he married in June 1954 at St. John's Episcopal Church, he leaves four children, Anne Tantalo of Orlando, Fla., Erik McWilliams of Marina del Rey, Calif., Karen McWilliams of Williamstown and Lue McWilliams of New York City; his brother, Norman B. McWilliams Jr. and his wife, Micheline, of Concord, N.H.; his beloved granddaughter, Sirianna Santacrose of Williamstown, two nephews and many cherished cousins and friends.

FUNERAL NOTICE — Burial will be private and a memorial service will be held later in the spring.

Donations in his name may be made to St. John's Church, 35 Park St., Williamstown, MA 01267 or to the Shingle Shanty Preserve and Research Station, P.O. Box 732, Tupper Lake, NY 12986. Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, West Chapels, 521 West Main St., North Adams, is in charge of arrangements.