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EDWARDS -- W. Sterling Edwards, 83, died at home in Albuquerque on June 28 after a long struggle with multiple system atrophy related to Parkinson's Disease. He was a visionary medical researcher, surgeon and teacher. Dr. Edwards was a pioneer in cardiovascular surgery. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama on July 23, 1920. He graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in 1942 and later received an MD degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1945. He served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps from 1945 to 1948. He was a professor of surgery at the Medical College of Alabama from 1952 to 1969 and at the University of New Mexico from 1969 to 1987. He volunteered on the medical ship Hope in 1968, stationed off the coast of Sri Lanka. From 1974 to 1987 he served as the Chairman of the Department of Surgery at the University of New Mexico. In retirement, he worked with persons suffering from terminal illnesses to help them better communicate with their health providers. His wife, Ann Dudley Edwards, preceded him in death in 2002. He is survived by his son, Bruce of Albuquerque and his wife, Paula and their children, Laura and Robert; his son, Peter of Albuquerque and his wife, Ana and their children, Will and Sandy; his son, Wyman of Albuquerque and his stepchildren, Amadeo and Nina Gonzales; his daughter, Kitty of Boulder, Colorado and her husband, Carl Lineberger; his sisters, Alabama E. Williams and Betsy E. Pless of Birmingham, Alabama; and his brother, Leon Wyman Edwards of Birmingham, Alabama. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. July 10 in Keller Hall, located next to Popejoy Hall on the campus of the University of New Mexico. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the W. Sterling Edwards MD Endowed Professorship, University of New Mexico Foundation, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131-001 or Doctors Without Borders, P.O. Box 1869, Merrifield, VA 22116-9644.
        Published on: Sat July 10, 2004