Dr. William Ziegler McLear III

William Ziegler McLear III, MD passed away on February 20, 2022 at the age of 90. Dr. McLear was born in Bryn Mawr, PA, to Mary (nee’ Cressman) and William Z. McLear, Jr. Raised in Wayne, PA, he graduated from The Episcopal Academy, Overbrook, PA, in 1949. During those years he was very active in Paoli 1 Troop, Boy Scouts of America, reaching Eagle Scout with Bronze Palm. He was also very active in Christian Youth organizations and was President of the Main Line Inter-Church Youth Council in suburban Philadelphia during his senior year in high school. A music lover, he sang in his local church choir and in both the Chapel choir and Glee Club of Episcopal Academy. He pursued his pre-medical studies at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT, where he played sports, was House Steward for Delta Tau Delta Fraternity, and was deeply involved with the College Christian Association.

After graduation in 1953, he attended the School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and earned his M.D. degree in 1957. Service in the Navy followed immediately, and he was commissioned as a Lieutenant J.G. in the Medical Corps, going on active duty at the United States Naval Hospital, Portsmouth, VA., where he served one year in a general rotating internship. He was admitted to the Aviation School of Medicine in Pensacola, FL and became a Naval Flight Surgeon. He was Chief Flight Surgeon at the Marine Aircraft Group 26 at MCAF New River, Jacksonville, NC, where he served for three years. During this time, he was deployed aboard a converted aircraft carrier with Marine helicopter squadrons on training missions in the Caribbean and in support of the early Mercury Space Program.

In 1961, Dr. McLear was granted a three-year specialty training residency in Orthopedic surgery at the U.S. Naval Hospital, Portsmouth, VA. After residency he was sent to the Los Angeles Orthopedic Hospital for a year of training in Children’s Orthopedic surgery after which he was assigned to the Orthopedic Surgery Department at the U.S. Naval Hospital, Jacksonville, FL, by which time he was a Commander, (MC) USN. He was named Officer-In-Charge, Surgical Team Bravo, and sent to Vietnam to provide medical/surgical care to injured Marines of the amphibious fleet making assaults along the coast of Vietnam. He served aboard the U.S.S. Tripoli and the U.S.S. Valley Forge, providing medical care to hundreds of wounded Marines. For this and many other services during this dreadful time, he was awarded the Legion of Merit and other citations. He returned to the Orthopedic Surgery Department at the Naval Hospital in Jacksonville, FL in late 1969 and resigned his commission, six months later, to enter the private practice of Orthopedic Surgery in Jacksonville with Southside Orthopedics P.A. His love of flying undiminished, he earned private and commercial land pilot’s licenses in single and multi-engine aircraft with an instrument rating and delighted in his single engine Piper Comanche in which he accumulated many exciting and soul-satisfying flight hours.

Dr. McLear was active in several hospitals in Jacksonville and as a strong believer in physician participation in the medical staff affairs, served on and chaired numerous medical staff committees. In 1984 he retired from the private practice of Orthopedic surgery to become Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer for Baptist Health System, a role he filled for 18 years, retiring in 2002.

In addition to his love of flying, he also loved the water. Over the years he owned several motor yachts on which he and his wife spent many weeks cruising the St. John’s River, the Intra-Coastal Waterway from the keys to the Chesapeake Bay as well as chartering similar boats to cruise the western Canadian coast. Always adventurous he obtained his SCUBA certificate at the age of 70 and became a member of American Mensa at the age of 80. He continued to pursue his love of singing, instilled at a very young age by singing in his local church choir. Throughout the years he has sung with various church and civic choirs and more recently sang with the River City Men’s chorus for five years. He was an active member of the Sanctuary Choir at Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church in Jacksonville.

Dr. McLear was preceded in death by his beloved wife Dorothy, his loving partner of 43 years, and his daughter Beverly Stout McLear in 1992. He is survived by his two sisters, Anne M. Fussell of Paoli, PA and Penelope M. Peterson of Rochester, NY; one brother, Bruce L. McLear of Rochester, NY; two children, his daughter Cynthia M. Beggs of Winder, GA, and his son David S. McLear of Hoschton, GA; one step-daughter, Patricia Buxton of Palm Bay, FL; and eleven grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the “William Z. and Dorothy McLear Endowed Fund” at Baptist Health Foundation, 800 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32202.

A funeral service for William will be held Friday, February 25, 2022 at 1:00 PM at Hardage-Giddens Oaklawn Chapel, 4801 San Jose Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL 32207, followed by a reception at The Legacy Lodge.

To view the livestream of the service please visit:

https://youtu.be/7ZUWExSe-N4

https://youtu.be/DNqVJTSTGRU