William Patrick Mulligan Jr.

William P. Mulligan, MD

Bill and his two brothers, Jim and Don, were raised working on their father Bill Sr.’s modest 20 acre farm in Marysville, breeding chickens for sale during the Great Depression. He was skipped ahead in grade school, missing second grade, thus graduating Seattle Prep at the age of 16. His devout mother Ada wanted him to attend Seattle University. Never telling her that Seattle University had offered him a scholarship, he chose to attend the University of Washington instead. He barely made it to McGill University Medical School in Montreal, Canada to start his first year, as he was stuck in Alaska working his summer job on Kodiak Island for the U of W Fisheries Department, rubbing elbows with grizzly bears, as he measured and weighed dead salmon after they spawned. Graduating medical school where he was elected to the medical honorary society AOA. He joined the US Navy as a Flight Surgeon and Ophthalmologist retiring as a commander after 9 years. He then moved his family to West Seattle where he practiced Ophthalmology and was an active member of the West Seattle medical community for 46 years, finally retiring in 2011 at the age of 81.

He and his wife were happily married for 62 years. Penny is a successful and prolific artist and sculptor, with personality and work ethic strong enough to match Bill’s. Together they raised 3 children Bill Jr a solar engineer, Tom who followed in his father’s footsteps to take over his practice, Patty who is a talented artist like her mother. Bill took his young family on many ski and backpacking vacations and it was almost always
an adventure. He continued his passion for walking with daily trips to Lincoln Park with his Jack Russells.
Bill’s passions were birdwatching and travel. He and Penny traveled the world on bird watching expeditions, visiting all seven continents. They had many memorable adventures, from climbing Mayan ruins in Guatemala, riding camels in Egypt, to crossing the South Ocean to Antarctica, to
birdwatching in the jungles of Borneo and the Amazon. Also volunteering to perform cataract surgery in Nigeria.

Bill was omnilegent, consuming enormous quantities of books, magazines, newspapers and medical journals, his entire life. Bill lived a rich and full life and will be remembered by his wife Penny, his 3 children Bill Jr, (Kim),Tom (Suzie) and Patty, brother Don, and 6 grandchildren Hedy, Daniel, Anya,
Cael, Xander and Kylie. He will also be remembered by the patients he treated with expert care and compassion for many years.

Please share memories and condolences on the Tribute Wall located above.

Arrangements Entrusted to Emmick Family Funeral Home of West Seattle

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