Psychiatry Professor Emeritus Bill Erwin Dies
Dr. Charles William Erwin, professor emeritus of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, died on April 27 at the age of 90 at Hock Family Pavilion in Durham, North Carolina. He was born on September 4, 1933, in Houston, Texas.
Erwin graduated from the University of Texas, Austin with a BA in anthropology in 1956. He obtained his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical School, Galveston, in 1960. After interning at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida, Dr. Erwin began his 37-year career at Duke University in 1961.
Erwin’s first appointment was a residency in psychiatry in 1961; he later became associate professor of neurology and professor of psychiatry. Early in his career, neurophysiology became his focus. He understood the potential for the use of electroencephalography in diagnosing brain diseases and conditions, as well as for studying the effects of medications and alcohol in areas ranging from motor skills to insomnia.
He was the associate director and then director of the electroencephalography laboratory at Duke from 1971 to 1983, and became director of the evoked potential laboratory from 1978 until his retirement in 2000. He also co-directed the Sleep Disorders Center.
During these years, the use of intraoperative monitoring using evoked potentials went from rare to routine. Erwin ensured that Duke University Hospital was at the forefront of this transition. He trained numerous physicians, medical students, and technicians in the use of evoked potential technology for intraoperative monitoring.
In 1999, he was president of the American Clinical Neurophysiology Society and received the Herbert H. Jasper Award for a lifetime of outstanding contributions to the field in 2011. He co-authored more than 70 journal articles and book chapters.
In addition to his years at Duke, Erwin served in the U.S. Navy from 1967 to 1969, providing psychiatric care for veterans and active service members at Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego, California. Upon completion of his service, he held the rank of Commander.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Erwin was a man of many talents and interests, enjoying a number of hobbies and activities throughout his life. He was an amateur photographer, made model rockets, traveled extensively with his children, hosted family reunions, and was a skillful chef, dedicated father and grandfather, and excellent storyteller.
His love of technological solutions led him to be an early adopter of personal computers and he maintained a lifelong interest in new technology. He was an avid Duke basketball fan and enjoyed being a season ticket holder for decades.
Erwin loved all forms of humor: puns, shaggy dog stories, riddles, knock-knocks and “dad” jokes abounded at any gathering. He believed the key to enjoying life was having an active mind.
Erwin is survived by his loving wife Andrea, daughters Tracey Erwin (Eric Raznick), Charlotte Morgan (Dave), Kate Carroll (Michael), Erin Hines (Chase), son Thomas Erwin, and eight grandchildren: Josh, Alex, Wyatt, Ronan, Finn, Dash, Oliver, and Benjamin.
Erwin’s legacy of dedication to medicine and zest for life will be cherished by all who knew him. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and the medical community he enriched with his expertise and commitment to training future generations of physicians and scientists.
A memorial service will be held at his home on June 8, 2024, at 10:30 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made by check to Duke HomeCare & Hospice, Hock Family Pavilion, 4321 Medical Park Drive, Suite 100, Durham, NC 27704, or via the online giving site.