William M.D.

CRANLEY, William R . M.D., of Wakefield and Bow Lake NH, died peacefully on Saturday, May 18, in comforting surroundings at the Boston Medical Center, where for four decades Dr. Cranley cared for thousands of children and mentored two generations of pediatricians and pediatric radiologists. "Dr. Bill,'' as he was affectionately known, was beloved for his leadership, his knowledge, his teaching, his dry and unflagging sense of humor, but mostly for his dedication to the care of children. For many of them, Boston Medical Center was a life saving experience that was often made possible by innovative new imaging technologies he taught to hundreds of medical students and residents in his principal role as Professor of Radiology at Boston University School of Medicine.

Bill Cranley was born at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Elizabeth NJ to Elizabeth C. and John J. Cranley . After graduating from Villanova University in 1964 and BU School of Medicine in 1968, he quickly became chief pediatric resident at Boston City Hospital before serving as a major in the US Air Force from 1971-73. From 1974 until his retirement last July, Dr. Cranley devoted his career to pediatric radiology and the care of children at Boston Medical Center, where he was vice chairman of the Department of Radiology, and at its predecessor institutions, University Hospital and Boston City Hospital. He was a peerless clinician whose passion was teaching and overseeing the work of medical students and residents. He won numerous accolades for his teaching and scholarship, most notably the distinguished Award for Teaching Excellence from The Society for Pediatric Radiology.

Even with so full a plate, Dr. Cranley devoted himself to family and friends, who are deeply saddened by his death but cherish the memories of a man who had time for everyone. He leaves his wife of 39 years, Kathleen K. Cranley; two sons, Timothy C. Cranley and Michael E. Cranley of Wakefield; Michael's fiancé, Karen Strangfeld; his daughter and her husband, Elizabeth C. Grasso and David L. Grasso of Stamford CT; a brother, John J. Cranley of Summit NJ; and a sister, Annamae C. Magnier of Wheaton, IL.

The funeral will be held from the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Avenue, Wakefield on Thursday at 9 a.m., followed by a Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. in St. Joseph Church, 173 Albion Street, Wakefield. Burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery, Wakefield. Calling hours at the funeral home will be on Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m.

Donations may be made to The Kids Fund at Boston Medical Center, 801 Massachusetts Avenue, 1st Floor, Boston MA 02118; and the Visiting Nurse Association of Boston, 500 Rutherford Avenue, Charlestown MA 02129.

Read William Cranley M.D.'s Obituary and Guestbook on www.mcdonaldfs.com.

Visitation

McDonald Funeral Home
19 Yale Ave.
Wakefield , MA US 01880
Wednesday, May 22, 2013, 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Service

St. Joseph Church
173 Albion Street
Wakefield , MA US 01880
Thursday, May 23, 2013, 10:00 AM

Cemetery

Lakeside Cemetery
Corner of North Ave. & Beacon St.
Wakefield , MA US 01880
Thursday, May 23, 2013,