This Textbook of Surgery by Professor Way educated several generations of surgeons in Ex Yugoslavia.
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Ex Yugoslavia
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Textbook of Surgery
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My condolences to Larry's family. We were classmates at UB Med '59. Larry, myself, Jack Krieger, and Jim Doyle were employed at Buffalo's Columbus Hospital for room, board and a few dollars in our 3rd and 4th years. Larry and Jack did preop physicals, I covered the lab at night, and Jim, who was already a nurse anesthetist covered emergency surgery at night. Larry had a steel trap mind and a laser focus. He had a sailboat on lake Erie and took us out a few times. We were a happy bunch set to conquer the world. Larry did exactly that big time. Columbus Hospital is gone now but not the memories. So long old buddy, I'll be joining you soon.
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I am truly saddened to hear of your loss. Please know that you have a community of friends who care about you and support you at this difficult time.
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Larry was a remarkable man. Revered doctor, skilled photographer, family man and friend to many. I will always remember him running up and down the sidelines of soccer games looking for the best angles for his photos. I will also always be indebted to him for his invaluable knowledge, skills and kindness when my brother was stricken with pancreatic cancer. The likes of Larry are too rare in this world. He will be missed.
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Larry was a unique person. I had the joy to know him starting when I was a resident doing research in his lab, then as a young attending where he was my mentor, and finally as a colleague. But, most importantly he was my friend. I loved his ability to challenge the norms, the fact that he always critically examined issues, and made his own decisions, rather than accepting the status quo. He approached the world with a fresh approach, creating new approaches, and embracing new ideas.
I also loved his commitment to family. One of our colleagues once complained to me that if he was talking to Larry at 5:45 PM, he would have to follow him out the door to continue the conversation. This was true because Larry was going home to be with his family. Even though he was a master surgeon, his family was important, and he made time for them. This is an important concept for all of us.
I also loved his creativity, outside surgical areas. He was a master photographer, with a very artistic eye, and the dedication to get the great shot. He also loved cultivating plants, with his love of Orchids and his succulent garden - which were done so very artistically.
I remember the joy I shared with Larry. I was lucky to talk to him on his Birthday (11/15/2022) and we had a lovely conversation. He told me of his daughter's wedding (he was so happy he was able to be part of it). We talked about our families and love of life. He loved his family so much, all of them. He seemed like the old Larry I had known for so many years.
Knowing him was joyful, that is how I think of Lawrence W. Way.
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It is too hard for me to put into words the depth of gratitude and love I have for Dr. Way; and as many have commented, much later "Larry". He was a mentor to me in kind, patient and inspirational ways. He saw something in me that I could not see myself. As a friend, he always made me feel safe and appreciated. His words of wisdom and funny quips still inspire me. I loved him deeply.
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As a young Biomedical Engineer in the process of learning to run a startup company, "Dr. Way" became a really important mentor. Later on, "Larry" became a real friend and sometimes colleague over nearly 30 years. He and his very innovative and talented Research Fellows and Residents have made so many breakthroughs, particularly in minimally invasive surgery. (BTW, I still have the videotape of the first two transluminal laparoscopic surgeries, a procedure he "invented" while we scribbled on napkins at an airport bar, waiting for a plane back from a meeting. Anyone want a copy?) He will be greatly missed!
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I met Dr. Way at the San Francisco VA in 1979. I was a third-year medical student. He was the Chief of Surgery. After I finished my surgical residency at UCSF he recruited me to the VA in 1988. At that time the other VA general surgeons were Orlo Clark and Carlos Pellegrini; the Deveny’s have just left.
It took me many more years before I could call Dr. Way Larry. I had to overcome my Chinese upbringing that revered our teachers like our parents. Dr. Way was my teacher, one of my two mentors. Larry Way and Orlo Clark shaped me professionally.
Dr. Way taught me and other UCSF trainees to think critically and to analyze issues in depth. He taught me that to be a good surgeon and a good researcher I need to see beyond the superficial and the obvious. He taught me to be open minded to new thinking, new techniques, and new technology, at the same time to always demand supporting evidence as we accept something new, either from published literature or from analyzing our own data
Larry was also my English teacher. As an immigrant non-native English speaker, I appreciate Larry’s writing style, which was more Ernest Hemingway than James Joyce. I remember writing papers with him where the pages were covered with red ink from his editing. I would read them carefully and learned from each of his edit that can be a surgical pearl, clearer thinking or just better writing. I learned from Larry how to think critically and in depth, how to operate precisely and efficiently, and how to write clearly.
Dr. Way helped train generations of laparoscopic surgeons. He trained many clinical laparoscopic fellows over several decades and he trained numerous research fellows who came from all over the world, Japan, Taiwan, Italy, Argentina, etc. In the early days of laparoscopic revolution, Dr. Way organized monthly laparoscopic training courses with pig labs; each one lasting a long weekend. Dr. Way trained thousands of surgeons in the United States in advanced laparoscopic procedures. I have met many surgeons who remembered their UCSF laparoscopic courses experience and how Dr. Way had changed their practice. Dr. Way has left a legacy in the field of minimally invasive surgery.
I remember Larry as a friend. I remember biking around Crystal Spring Reservoir on weekends. He had to slow down for me because I was not as athletic as he was although I am two decades younger. I remember Larry as a fantastic photographer. He would take stunning National Geographic type pictures, and he was the photographic historian of the UCSF Department of Surgery.
I miss him.
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Dear Catherine and family,
From the first time I met Larry I felt most fortunate to have been his brother-in-law. We spent many special times together as a family and then with Larry alone. I am particularly glad that we were together for Caroline's wedding and that we were able to be together for a trip down the Colorado River and do a photo shoot together in New Mexico and Arizona. I may have been a disappointment as a photographer, but he was a very patient teacher.
I will sorely miss him and I extend my heartfelt condolences.
love to you and your family,
Tom Merryweather
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Dear Catherine and Family,
Please accept my deepest sympathy.
Dr Way touched so many lives.
I feel honored to have known and worked with him.
Take care
mark fighera
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Dr Way was a giant of American surgery and of UCSF Surgery. He was creative and innovative, pushing the field of surgery forward. His book Current Surgical Diagnosis and Treatment was a standard text for so many general surgeons in training; while I was not fortunate enough to have trained with Dr Way, I like others were impacted by him and are blessed to be a small part of his legacy. Getting to know him over the last several years, learning about our Department and its history was a privilege. And I so loved his photographs. Sending strength and condolences to the Way family. May his memory be a blessing and an inspiration.
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My sincerest condolences for your family and loss. Dr. Way was a mentor and saw a spark in me as a 4th year med student in 2010. I was fortunate to have been able to scrub in the OR with him before he transition to his emeritus role. He pushed me to aim high, examine clinical scenarios with a detailed eye, and was kind and generous with his time and advice throughout residency and after I found my first job at UCD. I always loved his critical eye for clinical care, always having us be data-driven in our decisions. I remember fondly his love of knots, and how he taught me the Bunt Line Hitch and still have a video of him showing me the knot. His impact was great and he will be missed.
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Dear Catherine and family:
I am so sorry for the loss of your beloved Larry. I always knew that he was a great family man, an explorer and lover of life, and a respected doctor. I did not know the profound impact that he had on his field of medicine - thank you so much for sharing all of the accomplishments he had achieved in his career.
A life truly well lived - and he will be missed by many, including all of us in the Merryweather Family.
Thought and prayers to you all,
Tim & Denise Merryweather
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Our condolences to your family. Larry was multi-talented and respected by those who knew him.
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My sincere condolences to the family... a great loss to the surgical community... May his soul rest in peace.
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During my time at UCSF he was one of the kindest, loveliest, smartest and all around best people I met. He was also absolutely the most generous collaborator with whom I had the privilege to work, and this was in the era when male physicians supporting women docs was a rarity. And to top it all off, he later operated on my own mother and his confidence, warmth and tremendous skills transformed the experience for all of us. I will remember Larry for all of my life. My deepest condolences on your loss.
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Larry and I were close friends in high school and spent a lot of time together mostly playing sports. It was baseball in the spring, football in the fall and basketball in the winter. I also remember days that were similar to the scene in the movie Marty, where one character says, "what do you want to do?" and other says, "I don't know, what do you want to do?" It was clear even in those days that Larry was interested in a medical career. The father of a mutual friend was a doctor and when we went to their house Larry would ask him questions about his work. Larry played the saxophone and the clarinet in a local band and was very popular with classmates and younger schoolmates. We went to separate colleges and pursued different career paths but kept in touch over the years. I had no idea at the time that my high school friend would achieve so much in his adult life. I feel privileged that he viewed me as a close friend and I mourn his passing.
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