William “Bill” Karl Trzcinski, a local physician and long-time Richland resident, died peacefully, surrounded by his family on July 2, 2024; He was 84 years old. 

Bill, or Dr. T as he was known, was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey in 1939 to John and Helen Trzcinski and was a first generation American. He was a graduate of Arthur L. Johnson Regional High School, Clark, New Jersey and Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey in 1961. He graduated from the New Jersey College of Medicine, South Orange, New Jersey, in 1965 and interned at Grady Memorial Hospital (Emory School of Medicine), Atlanta, Georgia. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Hanover, New Hampshire where he met his loving wife, Gladys. Following his residency, Bill joined the U.S. Army in July 1967 and served until being honorably discharged in February 1970, attaining the rank of Major. During his time in the military, he was stationed at U.S. Army Garrison (Camp) Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Korea. When not attending to soldiers heading to Vietnam, he volunteered at a local orphanage. Upon his return to the U.S., he accepted a residency at the University of Washington, Seattle, in Otolaryngology. After completing his residency, Bill joined the Walla Walla Clinic in 1973 and practiced in Walla Walla, Washington for six years as the only Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist in the area and became a certified member of the American Board of Otolaryngology. In 1979, he accepted a Plastic Surgery residency at the Medical College of Ohio, Toledo, Ohio. Upon completion, Bill returned to Washington State and joined Dr. Alfred Monteilh, Jr.  in Richland to practice Plastic Surgery as a Diplomate of the American Board of Plastic Surgery until his retirement in 2007. Throughout his career Dr. T. touched the lives of thousands of patients in the Tri-Cities and surrounding areas. He also donated his surgical skills to repair cleft lips and cleft palates in Mexico and Chile over the years to improve the lives of those in the greatest need.  

Bill met his wife Gladys in 1966 in Hanover, New Hampshire where she was working as a Head Nurse. They dated while Bill was stationed in Korea and decided to marry in 1969 when she threatened to take a nursing job in Alaska. They were married on a beautiful clear day at Fort Lewis, Washington in June 1969. They lived in Bellevue, Washington for four years during which time they welcomed their two daughters. The family moved to Walla Walla, Washington in 1973 and a baby boy soon joined the family. Bill and Gladys were married for 55 happy years.  

Bill was a loving and supportive father who frequently dispensed financial advice to his children, for which they are now grateful. Although busy with his medical practice, he attended tennis matches, soccer games, and other events in his children’s lives. He took great pride in raising them to be “self-sufficient, contributing members of society” as he would always say. Grandpa Bill or Papa adored his three grandsons, and he cherished the time he spent with each of them. Bill was also passionate about mentoring young people interested in a career in medicine.  

Bill was an avid skier, hiker, water skier, and golfer. He enjoyed skiing everything from the small runs at Bluewood to helicopter skiing in Canada. His golf game wasn’t as good as he would have liked but he played golf regularly after his retirement and cultivated many fulfilling relationships with his golfing buddies. His hiking accomplishments include summiting Mount Fuji (1967) and Mount Kilimanjaro (2005) and hiking in the Himalayas in view of Mount Everest (2001).  

Bill is survived by his wife Gladys, his children Leah Trzcinski Martineau, Jennifer Doran (James Doran), and Christopher Trzcinski (Amber Trzcinski), and his three handsome grandsons Duncan Martineau, Becket Doran, and Jackson Trzcinski.  

A Celebration of Life and Memorial Service will be held Monday, July 29, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. at Christ the King Catholic Church, 1111 Stevens Drive in Richland.

In the spirit of a celebration, those attending the service are encouraged to wear cheerful colors. There will be an ice cream social at the church following the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his name may be made to Parkinson Voice Project, The Michael J. Fox Foundation, or Tri-Cities Chaplaincy.