Edward E. Waller, MD

October 22, 1929 – September 27, 2018

Dr. Edward Waller passed away peacefully in his home on September 27th from complications following a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Ed was born in Metter, Georgia in 1929, two days before the stock-market crash, to Edward and Julia Waller. He lived in Savannah until age twelve when the family moved to Oklahoma City where Ed graduated from High School. He attended the University of Oklahoma, majoring in pre-med and graduating Phi Beta Kappa.

Ed then entered Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago. While there he met his future wife, Susan Lyon, a nurse in training at one of the Northwestern hospitals. They married shortly before his graduation in 1955, and moved to Dallas, Texas where Ed interned at Parkland Memorial Hospital, and Sue supported them as a nurse while Ed earned $25/ month.

After internship Ed was obligated to spend two years in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. He was commissioned a Captain and sent to the Army dispensary in Garmisch, Germany. Together with another Army doctor and three German doctors they practiced general medicine, including orthopedics and obstetrics. It was there, surrounded by the Alps, that he and Sue learned to ski- a sport they enjoyed for many years. Following his Army discharge he and Sue moved to Oakland, California where Ed began a three-year residency program in Internal Medicine at Highland Hospital. At its conclusion he took the notoriously difficult Board Exam for Internal Medicine and passed it the first time. He volunteered for that exam again in 1974 and 1980 to ensure he was remaining up to date.

Ed went into practice in Berkeley in 1961 and was on the medical staffs of Alta Bates, Herrick and Merritt Hospitals and also on the staff of Highland Hospital where he made teaching rounds with interns and residents. He practiced medicine for over forty years, caring deeply for his patients and making frequent house calls. During that time he also served on Alta Bates Hospital’s Board of Trustees and as President of the Medical Staff.

Ed was also committed to serving others in the community. He was a long-time member of Berkeley Rotary, and was passionate about its mission to eradicate Polio. He spent considerable time supporting Rotary’s fundraising efforts to provide worldwide vaccines and help to end Polio forever. He was also a member of the Berkeley Breakfast Club and enjoyed their jolly meetings and efforts to support the UC Berkeley athletic programs.

In his spare time Ed enjoyed music, playing golf, snow skiing, traveling and spending time with his family in the mountains. He taught himself to play the banjo, which he loved playing while whistling his favorite tunes as well as playing with a group of his musical friends at numerous venues throughout the year, notably the neighborhood parade on July 4th, when the group played and led the parade from the back of a pickup truck.

Ed had a keen sense of humor and always loved a good joke. He was known by his friends, colleagues and patients for his kindness, compassionate spirit and love for his family.

He is survived by his wife of sixty-three years, Susan, his three children, Katie Harkin (Paul), David Waller (Kristine) and Sarah Murphy (Michael), and his six grandchildren, Ryan, David, Jr., Rebecca, Christian, John and Rosie.

The family gives special thanks to Ed’s dedicated caregivers who were very compassionate and contributed so much to his quality of life during this past year.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, October 15th at 2:00 pm at St. Clement’s Episcopal Church located at 2837 Claremont Boulevard, Berkeley, California.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Rotary Club of Berkeley, in memory of Edward E. Waller, at the following address:

Rotary Club of Berkeley 2342 Shattuck Avenue #101

Berkeley, California 94704