WALTER SYDNEY ATKINSON, MD BY Robert E. Kennedy, MD
THE 62ND PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN OPHTHALMOLOGICAL Society, Walter S. Atkinson, died January 6, 1978 in Watertown,
New York at the age of 85. Born February 3, 1881 in Parrsboro, Nova Scotia he received his early education there prior to moving to Mansfield, Ohio. His premedical education was completed in Ohio. He graduated from the Medical School of McGill University in 1914 and spent the following year as an intern at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal. In 1915-1916 he trained in Ophthalmology at the Herman Knapp Memorial Eye Hospital in New York City. In 1916 he
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joined his father and brother in practice in Watertown, New York. He joined the Canadian Army Medical Corps during World War I and was stationed in a hospital at the estate of Lady Nancy and Lord Waldorf Astor in England, with whom he had contact in later years. While there he also met King George and Queen Mary of England, author Rudyard Kipling, and had frequent medical contact with Sir William Osler. He later rejected Sir William Osler's advice that he go where there was a large teaching hospital and returned to Watertown in 1919, became a naturalized citizen, and practiced ophthalmology for more than fifty years. Walter Atkinson maintained an active academic interest in teaching and commuted regularly for more than ten years to New York City as Associate Clinical Professor at the New York University Post Graduate Medical School and later as a Lecturer. Walter's 43 years as an A.O.S. member began with his thesis entitled Local Anesthesia in Ophthalmology. He served the A.O.S. on the Council, as President in 1958, and was the recipient of the Howe Medal in 1972. His continued interest in anesthesia resulted in recognition as an internationally known authority. His book entitled Anesthesia in Ophthalmology was printed in two editions. Other medical interests were demonstrated by his writings concerning cataract surgery and mercurial toxicology of the eye. Doctor Atkinson was active in many local medical organizations during his long career as an ophthalmologist. He was President of his County Medical Society, Chief of the Eye Department and President of the Staff of the House of the Good Samaritan Hospital, Director of the Jefferson County Tuberculosis and Health Association, and the State Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped. He was a Fellow and former Vice-President of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He was a diplomate, member, and member emeritus of the American Board of Ophthalmology. He served as the Board President in 1957 and 1958. His suggestion was instrumental in the use of the multiple choice question in place of the essay type of question in the written examination for the Boards. Other memberships included the American College of Surgeons, New York Academy of Medicine, American Medical Association, and the Association for Research in Ophthalmology. Well known as a national and international speaker, he held honorary memberships in many state societies and in the Societe
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Francaise D'Ophtalmologie. In 1973 the Society of Eye Surgeons, at the group's second World Congress at Athens, Greece, established a lectureship in his name to perpetuate his memory. In June 1958 St. Lawrence University conferred upon him the honorary degree of Doctor of Science for his service in the field of ophthalmology. He had many active interests in addition to medicine. These included tennis, golf, and flying. He was active in the Episcopal church as a vestryman for 36 years. He served as a director of the Watertown Foundation, Inc., and the Community Chest-United Fund. He was a director of a bank and held membership in social clubs locally and in New York City. He was recognized as having benefited Watertown and Northern New York by his medical practice abilities. He will also be remembered for encouraging young ophthalmologists to settle in Northern New York State, who in tum have practiced according to his high medical ethics, thus leaving a valuable legacy to ophthalmology in the area. Doctor Atkinson married Mary A. Gamble of Watertown April 5, 1921. They lived in the historic residence of the late Robert Lansing, who was the war-time Secretary of State in President Woodrow Wilson's Cabinet. The family occupied a summer home, "White Oaks," near Clayton in the Thousand Island area of the St. Lawrence River. He is survived by his wife, Mary Gamble Atkinson; two daughters, Mrs. Peter H. (Jeanne) Remington, and Mrs. W. Graham (Grace) Wright; and ten grandchildren, all of Watertown. A son, Dr John G. Atkinson, a local surgeon, died in 1975. Doctor Atkinson was a distinguished gentleman, gracious, always impeccably dressed, courteous, considerate, friendly to those many years his junior, and socially most pleasant. Contrary to Sir William Osler's suggestion that he leave Watertown for a big teaching center, he stayed in Watertown and accomplished as much or more. He developed and broadened the Watertown area medically, socially, and from a humanitarian standpoint. At the same time he established himself ophthalmologically with a large clinical practice, frequent writing, lecturing, and very active participation in local, state, national, and international ophthalmological affairs. He will be remembered as a fine gentlemen and delightful person, in addition to his medical accomplishments. His wit was expressed when asked how he could tolerate the long, hard, cold, snowy winters in Watertown, in Upstate New York. With a twinkle in his eye he
Necrology casually remarked that "Watertown is not all that bad. We have good skiing ten months of the year, and poor skiing only two months of the year." 8
THE 62ND PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN OPHTHALMOLOGICAL Society, Walter S. Atkinson, died January 6, 1978 in Watertown,
New York at the age of 85. Born February 3, 1881 in Parrsboro, Nova Scotia he received his early education there prior to moving to Mansfield, Ohio. His premedical education was completed in Ohio. He graduated from the Medical School of McGill University in 1914 and spent the following year as an intern at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal. In 1915-1916 he trained in Ophthalmology at the Herman Knapp Memorial Eye Hospital in New York City. In 1916 he
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joined his father and brother in practice in Watertown, New York. He joined the Canadian Army Medical Corps during World War I and was stationed in a hospital at the estate of Lady Nancy and Lord Waldorf Astor in England, with whom he had contact in later years. While there he also met King George and Queen Mary of England, author Rudyard Kipling, and had frequent medical contact with Sir William Osler. He later rejected Sir William Osler's advice that he go where there was a large teaching hospital and returned to Watertown in 1919, became a naturalized citizen, and practiced ophthalmology for more than fifty years. Walter Atkinson maintained an active academic interest in teaching and commuted regularly for more than ten years to New York City as Associate Clinical Professor at the New York University Post Graduate Medical School and later as a Lecturer. Walter's 43 years as an A.O.S. member began with his thesis entitled Local Anesthesia in Ophthalmology. He served the A.O.S. on the Council, as President in 1958, and was the recipient of the Howe Medal in 1972. His continued interest in anesthesia resulted in recognition as an internationally known authority. His book entitled Anesthesia in Ophthalmology was printed in two editions. Other medical interests were demonstrated by his writings concerning cataract surgery and mercurial toxicology of the eye. Doctor Atkinson was active in many local medical organizations during his long career as an ophthalmologist. He was President of his County Medical Society, Chief of the Eye Department and President of the Staff of the House of the Good Samaritan Hospital, Director of the Jefferson County Tuberculosis and Health Association, and the State Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped. He was a Fellow and former Vice-President of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He was a diplomate, member, and member emeritus of the American Board of Ophthalmology. He served as the Board President in 1957 and 1958. His suggestion was instrumental in the use of the multiple choice question in place of the essay type of question in the written examination for the Boards. Other memberships included the American College of Surgeons, New York Academy of Medicine, American Medical Association, and the Association for Research in Ophthalmology. Well known as a national and international speaker, he held honorary memberships in many state societies and in the Societe
Necrology
7
Francaise D'Ophtalmologie. In 1973 the Society of Eye Surgeons, at the group's second World Congress at Athens, Greece, established a lectureship in his name to perpetuate his memory. In June 1958 St. Lawrence University conferred upon him the honorary degree of Doctor of Science for his service in the field of ophthalmology. He had many active interests in addition to medicine. These included tennis, golf, and flying. He was active in the Episcopal church as a vestryman for 36 years. He served as a director of the Watertown Foundation, Inc., and the Community Chest-United Fund. He was a director of a bank and held membership in social clubs locally and in New York City. He was recognized as having benefited Watertown and Northern New York by his medical practice abilities. He will also be remembered for encouraging young ophthalmologists to settle in Northern New York State, who in tum have practiced according to his high medical ethics, thus leaving a valuable legacy to ophthalmology in the area. Doctor Atkinson married Mary A. Gamble of Watertown April 5, 1921. They lived in the historic residence of the late Robert Lansing, who was the war-time Secretary of State in President Woodrow Wilson's Cabinet. The family occupied a summer home, "White Oaks," near Clayton in the Thousand Island area of the St. Lawrence River. He is survived by his wife, Mary Gamble Atkinson; two daughters, Mrs. Peter H. (Jeanne) Remington, and Mrs. W. Graham (Grace) Wright; and ten grandchildren, all of Watertown. A son, Dr John G. Atkinson, a local surgeon, died in 1975. Doctor Atkinson was a distinguished gentleman, gracious, always impeccably dressed, courteous, considerate, friendly to those many years his junior, and socially most pleasant. Contrary to Sir William Osler's suggestion that he leave Watertown for a big teaching center, he stayed in Watertown and accomplished as much or more. He developed and broadened the Watertown area medically, socially, and from a humanitarian standpoint. At the same time he established himself ophthalmologically with a large clinical practice, frequent writing, lecturing, and very active participation in local, state, national, and international ophthalmological affairs. He will be remembered as a fine gentlemen and delightful person, in addition to his medical accomplishments. His wit was expressed when asked how he could tolerate the long, hard, cold, snowy winters in Watertown, in Upstate New York. With a twinkle in his eye he
Necrology casually remarked that "Watertown is not all that bad. We have good skiing ten months of the year, and poor skiing only two months of the year." 8
