March 9, 2001

William H. Sweet, MD, PhD

William H. Sweet, MD, PhD, former chief of the Neurosurgery Service at the MGH and professor of Surgery emeritus at Harvard Medical School, died of complications from Parkinson's disease at his home in Brookline Jan. 22. He was 90. Sweet leaves his wife, Elizabeth, three children and eight grandchildren.

Sweet's career at the MGH spanned more than 60 years. He made significant contributions to the field of academic neurosurgery, concentrating on both clinical care and basic research. Sweet founded one of the first brain scan research laboratories in the world, pioneered techniques for pain relief and helped to advance the application of proton beam treatment for brain tumors.

A memorial service will be held March 25, 2 pm at the House of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 136 Irving St. in Cambridge. Memorial gifts may be made to the William Sweet Professorship, Harvard Medical School, c/o Office of Resource Development, 25 Shattuck St., Boston, MA 02115. The professorship will be located at the MGH Neurosurgical Service.