Walter R. Thayer Jr.

Walter R. Thayer Jr., of Riverside, R.I.; Jan. 8. He graduated from Tufts University Medical School and became known as one of the nation’s leading experts on Crohn’s and other gastrointestinal diseases. He served as head of the gastroenterology department at Brown’s Warren Alpert Medical School and chief of gastroenterology at Rhode Island Hospital, positions he held for 30 years. Upon his retirement in 2004, he was proud to cut the ribbon at the Walter R. Thayer Inflammatory Bowel Disease Laboratory at Rhode Island Hospital. He was awarded the distinguished clinician award by the American Gastroenterology Association and the humanitarian of the year award by Rhode Island and New England chapters of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America. He was also the recipient of the W.W. Keene Award from the Brown Medical Alumni Association. He conducted significant research into the causes of and treatment for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. He trained numerous doctors with an emphasis on recruitment and support of doctors of color. In retirement, he volunteered at the Providence Veterans Affairs Medical Center and mentored Brown medical students. He was recognized as teacher of the year in 2016 by Brown’s Medical School. He also volunteered at the Rhode Island Hospital GI clinic. He survived a small plane crash in Canada while providing medical care to Indigenous people and delivering babies as part of the Grenfell Mission; ran from a grizzly bear in Alaska; and broke his leg while descending Carter Dome on Mount Washington. He was passionate about preservation and served on the Pomham Rocks Lighthouse Committee; he was also an active member of the Rhode Island Wildflower Society, subsequently earning a botany degree from URI. An avid swimmer, he swam in the seven seas and five oceans and traveled six continents. He also was a cyclist who participated in century bike rides throughout the U.S. He is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, a son and daughter-in-law, four grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, a sister and brother-in-law, and several nieces and nephews.