Walter Work, MD, died in November 1994. He was born in Cannonburg, Pennsylvania, on September 4, 1909. He received both his undergraduate degree and his MD from the University of Michigan, the latter in 1935. He continued on there in surgery and otolaryngology and was certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology in 1941. Following his service as a medical officer in World War II, he moved to San Francisco, where he ran a successful private practice, as well as a residency program, which he established at Fort Miley Veterans Hospital. He continued in this dual occupation for 15 years. He then succeeded A. C. Furstenberg, MD, as Chairman of the Department of Otolaryngology of the University of Michigan in 1961. He served in that post until his retirement in 1979.

Dr Work also served as a Director of the American Board of Otolaryngology from 1959 to 1982, holding several key positions within the ABO, including VicePresident from 1963 to 1967, President from 1968 to 1971, and Executive Vice-President from 1972 to 1981. He was President of the Society of University Otolaryngologists from 1967 to 1968, and President of the American Otological Society from 1971 to 1972. He received the prestigious Newcomb Award from the American Laryngological Association in 1968. He was elected to membership in the American Laryngological Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc, in 1947 and became its President in 1973.

On a personal note, Dr Work was an inspirational leader. Without fanfare, he quietly got the job done. He was scrupulously honest and cared little about political jousting. Never once did I hear him publicly criticize anyone. Yet he was quick to defend otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. He was extremely loyal to his people, and they knew it without being told.

Dr Work married Alice Tyler in 1939, and they had four children-Paxton, Mary Alice, James, and Martha-and eight grandchildren. Mrs Work died on June 5, 1995.