Dr Richard Willis, top anaesthesia specialist at Royal Adelaide Hospital and Flinders Medical Centre dies

“A mentor and inspiration” to SA’s most senior and respected medical specialists has died, at the age of 80.

Dr Richard Willis with his wife and children. From left: Luke Willis, Sam Willis, his wife Gretta Willis, Dr Willis, Gemma Williams and Carl Willis.

It was fitting that Dr Richard John Willis took his last breath in Myrtle Bank at knock off time, just after 5pm on a Friday.

The renowned South Australian health leader who rose through the ranks to be national president of the Australia and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) was recognised for having a deep work ethic and staying on hand until the job was done.

Doctors and nurses throughout the state can remember him briskly walking hospital corridors as head of the anaesthesia departments at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, the Lyell McEwin Hospital and Flinders Medical Centre.

However it was left to his four children, Sam, Luke, Carl and Gemma, their partners and his 12 grandchildren to mark Dr Willis clocking off one last time at his bedside on October 11, raising a glass of his treasured South Australian red wine to honour a remarkable life.

The family’s 80-year-old patriarch developed an early sense of community growing up in Mount Gambier with his father Jack Willis, the local doctor, and his mother Zelma.

Dr Richard John Willis AM

Dr Willis during the Vietnam War.

He moved to Adelaide High School for a final year of studies before starting medicine at Adelaide University then embarking on a decades-long career specialising in anaesthetics.

A decade ago Dr Willis was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his years of service in medicine that included being chief examiner for ANZCA Final Fellowship Exam and being state president of the Australian Society of Anaesthesia.

His son Sam followed in the anaesthetic career footsteps and proudly speaks of his father donating many hours to teaching junior medical staff.

Dr Willis was never drawn to the more lucrative private sector in medicine, maintaining a long-held commitment to all South Australians deserving equal care.

“He was good natured, easy going, and had a huge intellect – he could undoubtedly have had a very busy private practice but decided public practice was more rewarding,” he says.

“He was a strong advocate for women in the medical specialties.

“His greatest legacy may be that he was a mentor and inspiration to most of Adelaide’s most senior and respected (current) anaesthetists.”

Dr Willis married the love of his life, registered nurse Gretta Partridge, before the two travelled with their young family to Sydney, New Zealand and later Seattle in the United States, where Dr Willis continued to hone his craft.

Dr Richard John Willis on his wedding day with Gretta.

He was a strong supporter of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and the Nature Foundation SA.

In his final years the nationally renowned anaesthetist continued to walk the wards – this time at his Returned Services League nursing home, living with dementia.

As he left the building one last time on October 11 his body was draped in a RSL quilt marking Dr Willis’s service as a naval doctor during the Vietnam War.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. We will remember them.

*Belinda Willis is Dr Willis’ daughter-in-law

Originally published as Dr Richard Willis, top anaesthesia specialist at Royal Adelaide Hospital and Flinders Medical Centre dies