FIRTH, III PHD., MD, William (Bil) Joseph

Heritage Funeral Chapel, Peoria, Arizona William (Bil) Joseph Firth III PhD., MD. April 24, 1951 - January 11, 2014 Peoria, Arizona Bil, a kind and introspective man, passed away on January 11, 2014 after completing his stride to the top of Thunderbird Mountain, a hike he frequently trekked. He spent the final moments of his life doing what he loved. Bil was a dedicated and beloved physician, husband, father, son and brother and will be remembered in the hearts of many. Bil was born on April 24, 1951 to William Firth and Audrea Phillips Firth in Baldwin, NY, the 2nd of five children. He lived the first 14 years of his life in Northport, NY and then moved with his family to Phoenix, AZ in 1965. Bil attended high school at Brophy College Preparatory and then went on to Arizona State University, eventually to receive his B.A. in French after a year abroad. In his junior year of college, Bil spent a year studying French language and culture at the Sorbonne in Paris, France, where he refined his tastes in pastries, baguettes and espresso, appreciated the fine wines and cheeses of France and met the love of his life, Anne Gwin. After receiving his degree from ASU, Bil felt the need to serve humanity. He chose to do this by answering the call of President John F. Kennedy and volunteered for the Peace Corps. He served in Niger, West Africa as a professor of agriculture, teaching locals, in French, the basics of wood and metalworking necessary for high crop production. This experience was truly a defining moment in Bil's life. He saw first hand the difference between the haves and the have-nots, and from then on, dedicated himself to the service of others. In 1976, soon after his return from West Africa, Bil married Anne Gwin and some years later had three beautiful children whom he loved dearly and was so proud. He literally beamed whenever he spoke of them and admitted privately to a bit of bragging. Bil's intellectual curiosity combined with his compassion for the suffering, lead him to a Ph.D in Biochemistry in 1984 and an M.D. in 1987 from the University of South Alabama. But it wasn't easy. Initially Bil approached the biochemistry chairperson about applying for the Ph.D fellowship. His qualifications: a BA in French and a few pre-med courses. Said chairperson almost literally laughed him out of the office, only to invite him to accept the fellowship a year later, all expenses paid and then some. He did accept, and over the next four years published numerous papers in respected biochemistry journals, many as first author. Unexpectedly the spouse of his major professor accepted a promotion that meant relocation. To entice Bil to also relocate, he was offered the opportunity to be the first Ph.D, M.D. candidate for the university, all expenses paid. Yet again Bil distinguished himself, being inducted into the Medical Honor Society Alpha Omega Alpha, elected President of his senior class, delivering the graduation address, receiving the award for best internal medicine student, and graduating among the top of his class. Following medical school, Bil completed his residency in internal medicine at St. Joseph's Hospital in 1990. Afterwards he opened a medical practice in Wickenburg, and continued to provide medical care for the Wickenburg community until his last days. Bil had a special love for the people of Wickenburg and many of his patients were beloved friends. Everyone who knew him saw him as the kind, patient and compassionate doctor that he was. He always strived to provide the very best care modern medicine could provide, but he also knew the meaning and importance to patient care of bedside manner. As a member of the faculty of the University of Arizona Medical School, he tried very hard to pass this along to the students and residents he trained. Over the course of Bil's medical career he received numerous awards, among them awards for outstanding community service and the Training Director's Award in 2013 for outstanding contribution to residency education, University of Arizona College of Medicine, South Campus. Although Bil may have held back his words, he never held back his love. His parents, wife, three children, four siblings and the rest of the Firth Clan were in his heart always. His curious and gentle approach to his family, medicine and life's questions will be greatly missed. Bil is survived by his wife of 37 years, Anne, children Peter Alexander Firth, Lexi Gwin Firth and William Joseph Firth IV, mother Audrea Firth, siblings Gary Firth (Angela), Tom Firth (Susan), Deborah Scannell (Patrick) and Paul Firth (Joelle), nieces and nephews Erik, Nicholas, Matthew, Brennan, Regina, Caitlyn, Branwen and John. He is predeceased by his father William Joseph Firth Jr. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Thursday, January 16 at Heritage Funeral Chapel, 6830 W Thunderbird Rd, Peoria, AZ. Scripture reading at 7:30 pm. Funeral Mass will be in the Brophy Chapel, 3:00 pm, Friday, January 17, 2014, located at 4701 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Dr. William Joseph Firth III Rural Medicine Scholarship at Wickenburg Hospital. Contributions may be sent in the memorial scholarship fund's name to the Wickenburg Community Hospital Foundation, 520 Rose Lane, Wickenburg, AZ 85390. ~~~~~~~~~ The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, Arizona Wednesday, January 15, 2014 Dr. William Firth, an internist who has practiced medicine in Wickenburg for 23 years, died suddenly Saturday (Jan. 11). According to a Wickenburg Community Hospital report, Dr. Firth was taking his routine Saturday morning hike when he suffered a “cardiac event.” Viewing will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. this Thursday (Jan. 16) at the Heritage Funeral Chapel, 6830 W. Thunderbird Rd., in Peoria. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Friday (Jan. 17) at Brophy College Prep, 4701 N. Central Ave., in Phoenix. A community memorial service is being planned in Wickenburg in the next couple weeks, and details will be announced as soon as arrangements are made. Dr. Firth, 62, began his private practice in Wickenburg in 1990, first at Wickenburg’s hospital and then with the Sun Health Medical Clnic and Banner Health Systems Clinic on West Wickenburg Way before returning to the local hospital staff in 2009. He was born in Baldwin, N.Y., on Long Island in 1951. In 1965, his family moved to Arizona, where he attended high school at Brophy College Preparatory and college at Arizona State University. In 1970, he spent a year studying at the Sorbonne in France, where he met his wife Anne. They have been married 34 years and have three children. In 1974, Firth volunteered for the Peace Corps. He lived for two years in Niger, West Africa, where he taught at an agricultural school. In 1976, upon returning to America, he began a career in medical research -- eventually obtaining a Ph.D. in biochemistry. His research interests included studying how drugs interact with the genetic material called DNA. In 1987, he graduated from the University of Alabama College of Medicine in Mobile. Following an internship and residency training in Internal Medicine at St. Joseph Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, he began private practice in Wickenburg in 1990. “I love being a doctor and especially love the people of Wickenburg,” he noted in his short biography that is posted on the Wickenburg Community Hospital’s website. “There is just something special and singular about the (people) who live in the Wickenburg area. I count many of my patients as my friends, and I have learned so much from the wisdom of this community. “I enjoy the challenge of rural medicine and try to impart this passion to my students as a member of the faculty at the University Medical School in Tucson,” he added. “I was recently chosen Rural Preceptor of the Year for 2010 at the Medical School, an award of which I am especially proud. Dr. Firth explained that he had been a patient after having undergone major cardiac surgery, which provided him a unique prospective as a health care provider. “I have been on both sides of the examining table,” he noted. “My hope for the future is to be one of the guiding forces for further development of medical services and care for the town of Wickenburg and surrounding areas. “Dr. Firth was an extraordinary physician and a friend to all to who had the privilege of being his patient, associate or co-worker,” noted a statement from the local hospital Monday (Jan. 13). “We would also like to reassure Dr. Firth’s patients you will be treated with the upmost sensitivity and professionalism with respect to the loss of your physician. Plans have been put in motion to provide additional physician/provider staffing until more long-term decisions have been made.” The family has established a memorial fund: William J. Firth Rural Medicine Scholarship Fund. Donations may be mailed to Wickenburg Community Hospital, 520 Rose Lane, Wickenburg AZ 85390.