George Walcott, M.D. (I ’67)

Of Milwaukee, 85, died peacefully and in the arms of his loving wife on Saturday, March 24, 2018 in Mequon. In many ways, his life was oriented around medicine, and he spent the majority of his career in the service of his patients.

For over 40 years, Dr. Walcott practiced with the Cathedral Square Medical Group, later part of Good Hope Clinic/ Aurora Health Care.  He was on the staff of Columbia Hospital, as well as with St Mary’s and Froedtert Hospitals.  He was Chairman, Section of Cardiovascular Diseases, St. Mary’s; President, American Heart Association – Wisconsin Affiliate; Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin; Fellow, American College of Cardiology; and a trustee of the Milwaukee Academy of Medicine. Dr. Walcott proudly maintained his board certifications in Internal Medicine and Cardiology and worked as a medical consultant at the Wisconsin DHS Disability Determination Bureau in Milwaukee and Madison until his death.

Dr. Walcott was a committed lifelong medical educator and a strong believer in hands-on learning.  He volunteered as a consultant at free clinics where medical students got their first experience with real patients.  For decades, he led teaching rounds at Medical College of Wisconsin.  He loved his occasional presentations to the broader Wisconsin DDB team and prepared for them diligently.  In career and personal life, Dr. Walcott practiced self-improvement.  He enjoyed fitness, outdoor activities, tennis, music, reading, dancing, and time with his friends and family.  He was active socially and loved his Milwaukee community of 50 years. He was a trustee of the River Tennis Club, and Vice President of the Harvard Club of Wisconsin.

Dr. Walcott was born in New York in 1932 to Roger Conant Walcott and Maude Lawrence (nee Pool) Walcott. The family moved to Washington, DC during WWII, where one day as he walked to school, George heard singing coming from the Washington National Cathedral. Curious, he walked in, tried out, and earned admission to St. Alban’s as a choirboy. He went to St. Paul’s School in Concord, NH and Harvard College, majoring in Geological Science, rowing crew, and graduating in 1954. He served in the US Air Force (5AF) on a ROTC Commission, working in Japan after the Korean Armistice Agreement. He ultimately received his M.D. from Boston University School of Medicine in 1962 and completed a yearlong rotating internship at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia, the oldest public hospital in the USA. He received an MS from the University of Minnesota, completing a residency in Internal Medicine and fellowship in Cardiology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester in 1967.

Dr. Walcott is survived by his wife of 55 years, Elizabeth “Wendy” (nee Wister) Walcott; their children, Wister Walcott of San Francisco, CA, Isabel Walcott Draves of New York, NY, and Dr. Roger Walcott of Buffalo, NY; his sister, Sophie “Fifi” Lawrence MacMahon, of Naples, FL, and 9 beloved grandchildren.

A service honoring George’s life will take place on Wednesday, April 4, at 2:00PM at the Feerick Funeral Home, 2025 E. Capitol Dr, in Shorewood, with a reception immediately following. A Celebration of Life will be hosted by the family later this spring. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, 1101 N Market St, Milwaukee 53202; and St. Alban’s School (Attn: Choral Program), Mount St. Alban, Washington, DC 20016-5069.