William Stratford, M.D.

William Stratford, MD passed away Jan. 15, 2008, after an extended illness and complications following open heart surgery at Wilson Regional Medical Center in Binghamton, N.Y.

Dr. Stratford was a 1971 graduate of the University of Rochester in Rochester, N.Y., with B.A. degrees in biology and chemistry. He attended medical school at SUNY of Buffalo, N.Y,, graduating in 1975, and entered the orthopaedic residency program in Buffalo N.Y., completing his orthopaedic residency in 1980.

He established Gaffney Orthopaedic Associates in 1980 and was the first orthopaedic surgeon to practice

Goal in Cherokee County. He later relocated his practice to Brooklyn, N.Y., at Brookdale Trauma Center, a Level One trauma center, where he served as an attending physician with the orthopaedic residency program as well as a private practice.

A board certified orthopaedic surgeon, he was a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the N.Y. Medical Association and former member of the S.C. Medical Association.

Dr. Stratford is survived by two sons, William John Stratford of Clemson and Michael James Stratford of Gaffney and their mother, Donna M. Stratford of Gaffney; his parents, Paul and Aileen Stratford of Vestal, N.Y.; two brothers, Russell P. Stratford (Aileen) of Painted Post, N.Y., and Paul F. Stratford (Lisa) of Singapore; a sister, Karen S. Hastings (Michael) of Endicott, N.Y.; several aunts and uncles and nieces and nephews.

Donations may be made to the American Heart Association, Memorials and Tributes Processing Center, P.O. Box 5216, Glen Allen, Ga. 23058; or National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Mid Atlantic Chapter, P.O. Box 36405, Charlotte, N.C. 28236- 6405.