Syracuse, N.Y. — Dr. William H. Marx, 70, division chief of trauma, burns and acute care surgery at Upstate University Hospital, died Wednesday.
The hospital announced Marx’s death Friday in a Facebook post.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our dear friend and colleague, Dr. William H. Marx,” it read.
The hospital did not disclose Marx’s cause of death, but said it was unexpected.
“We are pretty shaken,” said Dr. Robert Corona, Upstate’s Chief Executive Officer since 2019. “Its just a shock because he seemed so healthy.”
Marx, who also served as the hospital’s trauma medical director and operating room director, worked continuously at Upstate and the Syracuse VA Medical Center for almost 30 years.
“He made us one of the better trauma programs in the state if not the county,” Corona said. “His leadership helped us as we are the second busiest adult trauma center in the state and the busiest pediatric trauma center in the state.”
Marx, of Manlius, was integral in the development of trauma systems in the state and across the nation.
“He was highly respected across the state,” Corona said.
Marx also served as chair of the New York State Trauma Advisory Committee, chair of the Verification Review Committee (VRC) and was a member of the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma (COT).
He was instrumental in the creation of the new trauma center standards due to be released this year. Those standards will be used in trauma centers nationwide, Corona said.
During the pandemic, Marx was responsible for deciding which patients were eligible for surgery. He would make that determination based on medical necessity and time sensitivity, Corona said.
“He was just one of those most outstanding individuals and he set the example for our institution,” Corona said.
Before joining Upstate Hospital’s staff in 1993, Marx earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Missouri and his medical degree from the University of Health Sciences at the College of Osteopathic Medicine.
He accepted the Army Medical Scholarship and completed his internship, general surgery residency and surgical critical care fellowship at Letterman Army Medical Center.
Marx spent 22 years with the U.S. Army Medical Corps where he served in Operation Desert Storm and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel before retiring in 2001.
Corona said the hospital had already begun adjusting to life without Marx, who planned to retire to Canandaigua Lake soon.
“I know he was looking forward to retirement,” Corona said. “We were feeling the impact already. We are going to miss him dearly.”
Marx is survived by his wife of 37 years, Charlene, and their children, Courtney, Whitney and David.
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Funeral services will be held at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at Immaculate Conception Church of Fayetteville, according to his obituary.
Calling hours will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the church. Burial with military honors will take place at Onondaga County Veterans Memorial Cemetery.
Staff writer James McClendon covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? Reach him at 914-204-2815 or jmcclendon@syracuse.com.
