William Francis Finn

William (“Bill”) Francis Finn, 85 of Chapel Hill, NC passed away peacefully on March 30, 2026, surrounded by family.

Born on October 22, 1940, in Framingham, Massachusetts Bill was preceded in death by his beloved first wife, Mary Patricia (Lalor) Finn. Together, they had four children, who survive him: Mary Theresa (Jan Johnson), William Francis Finn, Jr (Tammy), Deborah Finn (Corey Hayes), and David Christopher Finn.

Bill is also survived by his devoted and loving wife of over 30 years Patricia Scott-Finn and her children Byron Neil Scott and Holly Nicole Scott.

In addition, he is survived by his grandchildren: Jan Johnson, Jr., Mary Gabriella Johnson, Rachel Christina Johnson, William (Liam) Francis Finn, III, Mary Ashley Finn, Justin Patrick Hayes, Julia Lalor Hayes, Jack Lalor Finn and Sandy Rye Finn.

Bill is also preceded in death by his parents, Alice Elizabeth (Ferguson) and Michael Francis Finn and his brother Robert Michael Finn.

Bill was a distinguished physician, educator, and pioneer in nephrology and devoted his life to advancing the care of patients with kidney disease and to mentoring generations of medical professionals.

Bill began his academic journey at Le Moyne College (1958–1962), followed by his medical degree from SUNY College of Medicine in Syracuse (1962–1966). He completed his residency in medicine at Ohio State University Hospital (1967–1969), where he also pursued a postdoctoral fellowship in nephrology (1967–1970). He later continued advanced training with a second nephrology fellowship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine (1972–1974).

From 1970 to 1972, Bill served his country as a Major in the United States Air Force Medical Corps at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas. During this time, he contributed as a medical advisor to Skylab, the first United States space station, reflecting his broad scientific curiosity and commitment to innovation.

In 1974, Bill joined the faculty of the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, where he would build an extraordinary academic career spanning nearly four decades. He served as Assistant Professor (1974–1979), Associate Professor (1979–1988), and Professor (1988–2012). Throughout his tenure, he was a cornerstone of the institution’s Division of Nephrology and played a central role in shaping its national reputation.

Bill served as Medical Director of the Renal Transplant Program at UNC from 1974 to 2012, where he was instrumental in the development and growth of the kidney transplantation program. His leadership extended to the Carolina Organ Procurement Agency, where he served on the Board of Directors and as Co-Medical Director (1985–1989), and later as Chief Medical Officer (1989–2004). In these roles, he worked tirelessly to improve donor management, organ preservation, and the care of transplant recipients.

A respected leader in his field, Bill served as President of the National Kidney Foundation of North Carolina (1987–1989) and contributed his expertise to numerous state, national, and international scientific boards, panels, and committees. He was also Editor-in-Chief of the journal Renal Failure from 1989 to 2005.

Bill’s scholarly contributions were extensive, with well over 100 published manuscripts and textbook chapters addressing renal physiology and pathophysiology, acute renal failure, chronic kidney disease, and kidney transplantation. He was a sought-after speaker, delivering many national and international lectureships, and remained actively engaged in nephrology and scientific professional societies throughout his career.

Beyond his many professional accomplishments, Bill will be remembered for his warmth, humility, and dedication to others. He was a gifted and beloved teacher to nurses, residents, and fellows, always encouraging and supporting those he mentored. Known for weaving baseball and other sports analogies into his teaching, he brought both clarity and humanity to complex medical topics. He was especially cherished as a speaker at nursing meetings, including those of the American Nephrology Nurses’ Association, and was a steadfast advocate for nurses in all settings.

His colleagues admired him as a thoughtful and dedicated research scientist, and those who worked alongside him in the laboratory recall both his intellectual rigor and his kindness.

To his patients, Bill was extraordinary. He listened attentively, spoke with compassion, and treated everyone with dignity and care. Though he sometimes set aside paperwork in favor of patient interaction, his priority was always clear: the well-being of those he served. His kindness, patience, and genuine concern left a lasting impression on all who knew him.

Outside of his distinguished professional life, Bill embraced a rich and joyful personal life filled with family, friendships, and a wide array of interests. More than 20 years ago, he established his beloved beach home in Emerald Isle, a place that became a treasured gathering spot for family and was affectionately known by his grandchildren as “Grandpa’s beach.” It was there that many cherished traditions were born, including the annual pancake-eating contest and Grandpa’s much-loved “book club,” both of which created lasting memories for generations.

Bill had a deep love of travel and was fortunate to journey across the globe, often combining his passion for exploration with opportunities to share his expertise through lectures for the pharmaceutical industry. Whether near or far, he approached each experience with curiosity and enthusiasm.

At home, Bill found joy in woodworking, crafting with care and precision, and enjoying fine wine with family and friends. He loved sailing whenever he could, and was an enthusiastic sports fan — especially devoted to cheering on the Carolina Hurricanes. Nothing, however, brought him greater pride than watching his grandchildren participate in their many sporting events.

In recent years, Bill also found great happiness in the simple pleasures of daily life, including the camaraderie of his coffee group, where he formed new friendships that meant a great deal to him.

Bill’s life outside of medicine reflected the same qualities that defined his career — warmth, curiosity, generosity, and a deep appreciation for the people around him.

Bill’s legacy lives on through the countless lives he touched — as a physician, teacher, mentor, and friend and most importantly a devoted husband, loving father and grandfather.

A funeral mass will be celebrated on Friday, April 10, 2026, at 10:00 am at St. Thomas Moore Church, 940 Carmichael Street, Chapel Hill with a reception immediately following at the Church. A private interment will follow the reception at Damascus Church, 522 Damascus Church Road, Chapel Hill.

In lieu of flowers the family requests contributions be made to the UNC Health Foundation in support of cancer research at UNC Lineberger or the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension at the UNC School of Medicine. Gifts may be made online at give.unc.edu/tribute/wfinn or by mail to UNC Health Foundation,123 W. Franklin Street, Suite 510, Chapel Hill, NC 27516

The Finn family is under the care of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service. Online condolences: www.hallwynne.com – select obituaries.