Search Archived Marriage Records
Dr. William Henry Beierwaltes
Dr. William Henry Beierwaltes - who founded one of the nation's first hospital programs for the use of radioactivity in medicine, co-developed several nuclear medicine agents still in use today, wrote the first textbook on the topic, and conducted radiopharmaceutical research during five decades - died of prostate cancer July 29, 2005 in Winnetka, Ill. He was 80.
McNerney founded U-M's Program in Hospital Administration in the School of Business in 1955. The program's curriculum remains the core of the University's graduate degree program in health administration, which U.S. News and World Report has ranked No. 1 in the nation every year since 1993. The program is based in the School of Public Health (SPH) Department of Health Management and Policy.
One of the most influential people in health care, McNerney was a giant among giants, says Chuck Lauer, publisher of Modern Healthcare magazine. "He knew the industry cold," Lauer says. "He had a great sense of the right things that should be going on in health care. He cared very deeply about the poor, the disadvantaged."
McNerney received a bachelor's degree in industrial administration from Yale University in 1947 and a master's degree in hospital administration in 1950 from the University of Minnesota. He subsequently joined the faculty at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and the university's Graduate School of Public Health.
In 1955, McNerney moved to Ann Arbor, where he founded U-M's hospital administration program. "Walt's contribution as a teacher and scholar pale only in comparison to his remarkable achievements as a national leader," says former colleague John Griffith, professor of health management and policy at SPH. "His concept for the curriculum for health care management remains at the core of the modern master's of health services administration.
"He mentored dozens, taught hundreds, and served as an inspiration to thousands in health care management. His groundbreaking empirical research, conducted in the 1950s and published in two volumes in 1962, was a pioneering effort to understand the social, economic and political framework of health care in Michigan. It became a model for subsequent investigation across the nation," Griffith says.
McNerney left U-M in 1961 as a full professor to become president of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, a position he held for two decades. McNerney was a leading adviser to President Lyndon Johnson and helped create the Medicare and Medicaid programs in the 1960s. He oversaw the merger of Blue Cross and Blue Shield in the late 1970s.
"He was probably one of the most articulate spokespersons in the health industry," says Bernard "Barney" Tresnowski, a 1955 graduate of SPH, who became both a friend to McNerney and his successor at Blue Cross and Blue Shield. "He was able to understand what was going on and communicate it effectively. He was almost mesmerizing in his speeches."
McNerney was instrumental in getting HMOs and managed health care implemented at Blue Cross and Blue Shield because he thought managed care was inevitable and the wave of the future, says his son, Peter.
After retiring from Blue Cross and Blue Shield, McNerney became a professor of healthcare policy at the Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern University, as well as a consultant. He retired nine years ago after suffering a stroke.
McNerney is survived by his wife of 57 years, Shirley; five children, and 22 grandchildren.
In 1999, SPH established the Walter J. McNerney Leadership Award in his honor; it supports innovative health care research and its applications. Contributions to the award in his memory may be sent to the SPH Development Office, 109 S. Observatory St., Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2029.
William C. Wood
William C. Wood, a former Photo Services photographer, died Nov. 9, 2005 after returning home from a vacation in Germany. She was 73.
Rathbun joined the mathematics staff in 1967 and quickly became a major supporting pillar of its activities. She represented the department to faculty, visitors and students for 27 years before her retirement in 1994.
Her skills and warm spirit rapidly endeared her to all who came through the department. Rathbun became known throughout the world's mathematical community because of her concern for all members of the department and the many students and international faculty constantly flowing through Ann Arbor.
One current faculty member reports that, when he sees former students, visitors or faculty, their first query is "How's Ethel?" Her friendships ranged from members of the National Academy of Sciences to beginning graduate students. Indeed, one department chair referred to her as die Herr of mathematics. She retired after a distinguished career during which she always gave her behind-the-scenes competence and compassion to all with whom she made contact.
Rathbun was died Sept. 27, 2005 after a short illness. He was 68.
Loyer was a man of many interests and talents, including being an avid cyclist, jazz enthusiast, and passionate supporter of the arts and theatre. He saw himself as an administrator/educator with an emphasis on educator.
Loyer was married for 43 years; three sons, Chris of Irvine Calif., Tim (Christine) of Chicago, and Josh and partner Mary Murphrey of Ann Arbor; and a sister, Martha Basile of Rocky River, Ohio.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Evans Scholar Foundation, Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living or First Congregational Church of Ann Arbor.
