Pratt, William Brewster 12/30/1938 - 7/8/2020 William Pratt of Ann Arbor, Michigan passed away on Wednesday, July 8, 2020 at the age of 81. Bill is survived by his wife of 58 years, Diana, his son, Sean, his daughter in law, Holly, and his grandson, Ben. Bill was born in Salem Massachusetts to Doris and Weldon Pratt. He was raised in Wellesley, Massachusetts, where he became an Eagle Scout. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1960 and from Yale Medical School in 1964. He was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Institut fur Therapeutische Biochemie, Goethe Universitat, Frankfurt am Main, Germany (1964-65), and at Stanford Medical School, Palo Alto, California (1965-67. In 1972-73, Bill was an intern in Pediatrics at Yale University of Medicine. Bill served on the faculty of Pharmacology at the Stanford Medical School from 1967 to 1971. He joined the University of Michigan Medical School Faculty in 1973 serving as an Associate Professor and Professor of Pharmacology. He was an Emeritus Professor of Pharmacology at the time of his passing. During his long academic career, he authored seven textbooks, 57 Invited Reviews, and 154 Research Papers. He received the Henry J. Kaiser Award for Excellence in Teaching at Stanford Medical School in 1970, the Distinguished Faculty Lectureship in Biomedical Research at the University of Michigan in 1996, The Goodman and Gilman Award in Drug Receptor Pharmacology in 2002, and The Allan Munck Prize and Distinguished Lectureship, at Dartmouth Medical School in 2002. Bill was known as a perfectionist, who demanded excellence of himself and his students. He was equally passionate about his recreational pursuits: a love of the mountains, skiing, gardening, and traveling the world. He and his wife have visited over 140 countries. Bill's family shares his passions. In accordance with Bill's wishes, the arrangements are private. Donations in his memory can be made to the Natural Resources Defense Council or Doctors Without Borders.
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6 Entries
was just thinking of Bill, last week, and this pops up.
I followed all his advice...and everything worked out, just as he said.
Miss running into him and his lovely wife.
Mary Stewart
Friend
June 7, 2021
I met Bill in 1966 at the Stanford Pharmacology Research Lab when I was a high school student. I being from East Palo Alto, this was quite cultural shock of extreme achievers. Bill was most influential on my life's path from high school onward. Many a times when I was slacking off or goofing about in college & beyond, I could hear his voice telling be to do better & remember his pat on my shoulder. I also remember many of his crude jokes when I am "down" or when thing didn't go as expected and they would bring a smiles or a chuckle. I will always carry his attitude for perfection in me forever. He will surely be missed.
Ronald Chew
Friend
June 5, 2021
So very sorry to see us lose another great from WHS class ‘56 prayers and deepest sympathy for all the family
DEanna Ustas (Fowler)
Classmate
January 18, 2021
Russell Copeman
August 7, 2020
I met Bill, at the Michigan Unions coffee shop. I loved hearing about his and Dianas travels around the world. Im so sorry...he was very kind and thoughtful. My thoughts and prayers are with Diana and family.
.
Mary Stewart
Friend
July 18, 2020
So sorry to hear about Bill. I met him when I joined the department in 1977 and over the years watched him mentor many outstanding students in his lab and in student seminars. I got to know him better when he moved into the office next to mine around 5 years before he retired. We had lots of memorable conversations about research, people, the crazy arrangement for controlling the heat and air conditioning in our two offices (his controlled the heat for both offices, mine the A/C) even motorcycles, and although we didn't always agree I respected and more importantly admired Bill's passion and his willingness to show it, and every time we finished I had a smile on my face. It was my privilege to have known Bill; one of a kind, and in a very good way.
Marshal Shlafer
Coworker
July 13, 2020
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