William Hossfeld Luginbuhl

William H. Luginbuhl, MD, age 92 of Kennett Square Pennsylvania and formerly of Panton, Vermont died peacefully in his sleep on June 21, 2021.

He was born on March 11, 1929 in Des Moines, Iowa to Christian B. Luginbuhl, a physician and Giulia Hossfeld Luginbuhl, a teacher.  He attended Iowa State University followed by Northwestern Medical School in Chicago where he also completed an internship and residency in pathology.  He pursued additional training in Cleveland and was drafted in the US Army, spending 2 years as the only pathologist in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.  He then moved to Burlington, Vermont where he spend most of his career at the University of Vermont Medical School.  He started training as a surgical pathologist and advanced to the Dean of the medical school, a position he held from 1970 until 1991.  Luginbuhl received 2 honorary degrees, one from Middlebury College and one from the University of Vermont.  He and his wife, Vi, retired to a home which he designed and built on Lake Champlain in Panton, Vermont where he pursued his passions of gardening, travel and enjoying his family.  He and Vi moved to Kendal at Longwood in Pennsylvania in 2011.

Due to his many interests and hobbies, the Vermont Press referred to Luginbuhl as “the renaissance dean.”  He was particularly interested in horticulture.  He grew extensive fruit and vegetable gardens including 100 varieties of apples and developed and patented his own apple, the Vermont Gold notable for its delicious flavor.  He was an expert on trees.  He collected acorns and grew every variety of Oak and Hickory tree native to New England.  He was an active member of the Kendal arboretum committee.   Other interests included geology, railroads, and fly fishing.  He took a keen interest in his grandchildren following their lives and activities closely.

He is preceded in death by his parents, brother, Christian and son-in-law, Chris Guida.  He is survived by his beloved wife of 66 years, Viola (“Vi” nee Larimore) and their five children, Lynn (Morris Earle), Ann, William (Erica Turner), Tod (Sarah) and Rob.  He is also survived by 10 grandchildren, Benjamin Earle, Hal Earle, William Earle, Sophia Guida, William Guida, Katharine Luginbuhl, Jessica Luginbuhl, Russell Luginbuhl, Myles Luginbuhl and Melany Luginbuhl-DeHeer.

Memorial service to be arranged in the future.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the William H. Luginbuhl Education Fund at the University of Vermont College of Medicine at 411 Main Street, Burlington, VT  05401-7420.

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