In memorium: William Feuer

Two days ago my Institution Bascom Palmer Eye Institute (BPEI), University of Miami lost a true hero, Mr. William Feuer, MS. Bill was as you find him in the picture, always smiling, full of enthusiasm. I think he had an infectious enthusiasm. When I arrived at BPEI or Department of Ophthalmology some 16 years ago Bill Feuer and Joyce Schiffman ran the Biostatistics core together. They were great colleagues and collaborators. Always happy, always ready to assist.

Some mornings when puzzled with a statistical calculation usually for a grant (or sometimes for a paper) I would call Bill, he will usually say well I will be at your building in a few hours. Why don't we meet in first floor conference room and here we go. No matter how complicated the problem I arrived with, for Bill it never took more than 45 minutes. On very rare occasion we had to meet a second or a third time in his office. At some time point Bill had move to CRB building and to the best of my recollection at 12th floor, which is where his office was. Bill will solve the problem and explain the solution that appeared to flow like clear water. I would say the problem became easy as cake. This happened every time and all the time.

I was taught a refresher course in statistics by Bimal Kishore Panda, MD in 1990s at Institute of Medical Science, Banaras Hindu University. Dr. Panda was a great teacher and all statistical problems looked easy to solve just follow some logic methodically. When I started working with human samples in Cleveland Clinic Foundation in 2003, Scott Smith, MD, a glaucoma specialist had the similar ability to solve and explain the problems with fluidity and ease. However, Bill was the best is simplifying and explaining. He never oversimplified anything but did just what was need to explain and make you understand easily.

At some time point I came up with a joke that if I won on something Bill will wear a necktie. I brought him the necktie but he wore it only once may be for less than 5 minutes. He loved to wear informal attire and provided same informal assistance with warmth everytime. He was always smiling and make every problem appear so simple. Bill always found a way to help out in a difficult situation. He would never utter a bad word for anyone when there is an intrapersonal problem. He will work behind the scene to solve such a problem and arrive at a solution. I experienced this "Bill" in my capacity as a Graduate Program Director. When teaching a course due to intrapersonal issues among a few instructors was becoming a problem, Bill worked out a solution and presented the solution to me in isolation. He was so careful and so frugal to say anything more than the solution that he never needed to say anything bad or critical about colleagues who were difficult at times. Bill presented a simple solution-just solution-be happy and be smiley. Problem has been resolved-go back to smiling again, what else you need? I wish we had a roomful of folks like Bill.

Some folks would not know who Bill was. He may tell them that he has been working for 40-45+ years at Biostat department. They will see his MS degree and not realize that behind this simple, smiling and informal attitude, casual attire remained a fountain of knowledge, skills to solve complicated problems that come with practice of the craft, constant reading and framing the problem correctly. Bill was principal investigator of a NIH grant. He also had served as chair of a NIH study section. Much of the confusion to some folks was due to his very down to earth attitude. When Joyce retired there was a collegial void left for Bill. They had worked together alongside professionally for many years.

Bill continued. There will perhaps be no resident who has not gone to Bill for help with a residency project. There will be perhaps no researcher who has not benefited from 30 minutes of Bill solving their "big" statistical issues.

As Director of Master's in Vision Science and Investigative Ophthalmology (MVSIO) program, I think our first three years of graduates were extremely lucky to be taught by Bill. Of late Bill was not doing well and went through surgeries. Two days ago, we lost a great teacher, great educator, mentor, a beloved friend and colleague, a warrior and above all a quiet institutional hero. Bill's body is dead but he will live among his students, colleagues and all the published work. I see Bill in imagination always happy, smiling and cracking small jokes. In my mind Bill is a living memory that will survive as long as I live. It is rare to find such a living, smiling full of life colleague who was so down to earth.