William Rice

William J. Rice, 91, passed away in his Grosse Pointe Shores home Monday, October 12th. Born in 1929, he was the son of Thomas and Christina Rice of Detroit. Bill graduated from River Rouge High School, Michigan State University (where he was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha), and the Wayne State University College of Medicine. Following an internship at Queen’s Hospital in Hawaii, he joined the U.S. Air Force as a Flight Surgeon and was stationed in the South Pacific. After his military service, he met his wife, Ginnie, a nurse, in San Francisco. Returning to Michigan for his residency, he was Board certified by the American College of Surgeons and went on to co-develop Lakeshore ENT—one of the largest ear, nose, and throat practices in the state. Upon his retirement, Bill co-founded The Holley Institute with its services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and was its vice president and medical director. An avid tennis player, skier, runner, scuba diver, and photographer, he is survived by his wife of 58 years, sons Grantland and Garrett, grandchildren Taylor and Jackson, and more than two dozen nieces and nephews. An outdoor service will be held on the Trinity Terrace at the Grosse Pointe Memorial Church on Tuesday, October 27th at 12 Noon. Donations (in lieu of flowers) can be made to The Holley Institute, Boll Professional Building (Suite 223), 22151 Moross Road, Detroit, Michigan 48236.