William C. Koller, MD, PhD 1945–2005

William C. Koller unexpectedly died on 3 October 2005 inChapel Hill, North Carolina. He is survived by his wifeVicki Royse Koller and three sons, Todd (27), Chad (21)and Kyle (16). Bill was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on12 July 1945 where he graduated from Marquette Univer-sity High School and completed a BS at Marquette Univer-sity in 1968. At Northwestern University in Chicago hereceived an MS in pharmacology in 1971, a PhD in phar-macology in 1974, and an MD in 1976. He completed hisinternship and residency at Rush-Presbyterian–St. Luke’sMedical Center in Chicago. Early in his career he heldpositions at the Rush Medical College, University of Illinoisat Chicago, Chicago VA, Hines VA, and Loyola Univer-sity. From 1987 to 1999 he was Professor and Chairman ofNeurology at the University of Kansas Medical Center. In1999 he moved to the University of Miami and became theNational Research Director for the National ParkinsonFoundation. He spent two years directing the MovementDisorders clinical program at the Mt. Sinai Medical Centerin New York before moving to the University of NorthCarolina. While in Chapel Hill, he once again brought vigorand energy to his movement disorders colleagues and laidthe foundation for yet another superb program.

Bill was a world-renowned neurologist specializing inParkinson’s disease, essential tremor, and related disor-ders. He published over 270 peer-reviewed manuscripts,over 160 review papers and multiple books. He was aFellow of the American Academy of Neurology, Trea-surer of the Movement Disorder Society (1999–2000),Executive Board member of the Parkinson Study Group(1996–1999), President of WE MOVE (2001–2002), afounding member of the Tremor Research Group andfounder of the International Tremor Foundation.

In addition to his achievements, Bill will be rememberedfor his sense of humor, his warmth, and for the youthfulenthusiasm he brought to his work. He will be especiallymissed by his patients. Bill was the consummate physician,befriending many of his patients who were encouraged tocall him on his cell phone at any time. Whether lecturing inSouth America, fishing on the boat he shared with severalcolleagues, traveling with one of his boys to an internationalmeeting, or seeing patients in the clinic, Bill had a smile onhis face and a sparkle in his eye. The Movement Disorderscommunity has lost a valued colleague, mentor and friend.

Kelly Lyons, PhDMatthew B. Stern, MD

Movement DisordersVol. 20, No. 12, 2005, pp. 1535© 2005 Movement Disorder Society

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