William Brereton

William F. Brereton M.D. died on Tuesday, November 11, 2014 at home after an extended battle with cancer. He was born on September 30th, 1938 in New York City, the son of William F. Sr. and Helen Clark Brereton and grew up in Westchester County New York. He received his B.A. from Yale University in 1959 and his M.D. from Cornell University Medical College in 1963. His internship and first year residency in Medicine were at 2nd (Cornell) Division at Bellevue Hospital in New York. Dr. Brereton then served in the U.S. Army from 1965-68 as Commanding Officer of the 24th General Dispensary in Giessen, Germany. He continued his training as a medical resident and fellow in Hematology / Oncology at University Hospitals, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio. He was board certified in Internal Medicine, Medical Oncology and Hematology.

In 1971, he joined Clinical Associates of Erie, where he practiced for almost 30 years. During that time, Dr. Brereton joined his partners in establishing a pioneering approach to treating cancer, creating a practice with a unique multi-disciplinary cancer-care model that eventually became the foundation for the Regional Cancer Center, one of the first free-standing community-based cancer centers in the country.

Dr. Brereton was a staff member at Hamot Medical Center and at Sr. Vincent’s Health Center, where he served as President of the Medical Staff. He was a member of the Erie County Medical society (President), the PA Medical Society, the American Society of Internal medicine, the American College of Physicians (Fellow), The American Society of Clinical Oncology (PA representative), and The Pennsylvania Oncologic Society (President.)

Bill loved Erie and was active in the Erie community; his civic contributions included serving on the Board of Directors of the Erie Zoo (Secretary), as well the Boards of Perseus House and the Perseus House Charter School of Excellence. In addition, he was a Trustee Emeritus on the Regional Cancer Center Foundation Board.

He was gregarious, a born teacher and immensely proud of his children and grandchildren. His interests and hobbies including wine-making, cross stitching, writing and playing the ukulele were wide ranged and enthusiastically pursued.

In 1963, he married Constance (Peep) Cochran of Erie PA, and the couple celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2013. She survives, as do his two brothers, Noel (Jane) of Northport, N.Y., John (Annie) of Middleton, Rhode Island and one sister, Jane Sullivan, of Germantown, MD. He is also survived by his four children, Amy Canaday (Daniel M.D.) of Cotuit, MA; Susan Grossman of Ridgewood, NJ; Sarah (Sally) Patience (Nicholas) of London, England; and Mark Brereton (Kimberly) of Erie, PA, along with 11 grandchildren: Liam, Gavin, Clarah, Nora, Maura, Miles, Arden, Declan, Riley, Scarlett and Peyton. He was predeceased by one brother, Bruce Joseph Brereton.

Friends and family may call Saturday 3pm to 5pm and Sunday 2pm to 7pm at the Burton Westlake Funeral Home, 3801 West 26th Street. A funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Patrick Church, 130 East 4th Street, on Monday, November 17th at 10:30am. Burial will be at Laurel Hill Cemetery at the family’s convenience.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to: The Regional Cancer Foundation, 2500 West 12th Street, Erie, PA 16505 or to: The Erie Zoological Society, 438 West 38th Street, Erie, PA, 16505