Dr. Edward Harlan Wilson

November 8, 1923 – May 22, 2021

Dr. Edward (Ted) Harlan Wilson, Jr. passed away peacefully, surrounded by his devoted children and grandchildren while living at The Sequoia Tamalpais in Greenbrae, CA. He was born in Boston, MA, to Dr. Edward Harlan Wilson & Dorothy Elizabeth Hewitt Wilson. Ted was raised in Bexley, OH outside of Columbus. He attended Columbus Academy (Class of 1941) where he played football.

Ted attended college at Dartmouth (class of 1945) where he was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. He then attended Ohio State Medical School, graduating in 1949. He completed a 3-year surgical residency at Mass General in Boston and later joined his Uncle Philip Wilson at the Hospital of Special Surgery in New York City, where he completed his residency.

He was the fourth in his family to specialize in orthopedic surgery, following in his father & grandfather’s footsteps as well as those of his Uncle Phillip Wilson of New York.

Ted met his future wife, Ruth Sams, on a blind date in 1950. From 1951-1953, Ted served in the US Army as the Chief of Orthopedic Surgery, 320th General Hospital in Landstuhl, Germany. Upon returning from Germany, Ted and Ruth were married in New York City in 1954. They moved from NY with their firstborn child, also named Ted, and settled in San Francisco in 1957.

He grew his orthopedic surgery practice as well as his family. In their 56 years of marriage, Ruth and Ted had three more children, living in the Pacific Heights neighborhood of San Francisco. Ted went on to practice for more than forty years, almost all at Presbetyrian Stanford Hospital which later became part of California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC). He served as Vice Chief, Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Presbyterian Hospital from 1979 - 1989. Ted was well regarded by his peers and patients throughout his career.

Ted loved spending time with his family, camping in Yosemite, exploring the Old West, and had a passion for the outdoors including photography, hiking, and reading. He was an avid history buff, always reading and further educating himself about great historical figures and events. Many Sundays you could see Dr. Wilson walking from his home in Pacific Heights to the Golden Gate Bridge and back, 6 miles, well into his 80s.

Preceded in death by his wife Ruth, Ted is survived by his four children: Ted Wilson (Darcy J. Sears), Cathy Wilson Harrington (Bill), Greg Wilson, and Beth Wilson O’Halloran as well as 5 grandchildren – Casey & Matt Harrington, Audrey Wilson, and Nick & Keller O’Halloran.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to the Sierra Club Foundation.

A Celebration of Life will be held for family and friends in July.