William W. Clements Jr., 83, physician

William W. Clements Jr., 83, a family physician from Devon, died Friday, Jan. 16, of complications from Parkinson's disease at Bryn Mawr Hospital, where he had spent much of his life tending patients.

A Main Line native, Dr. Clements was a graduate of the Haverford School, Wesleyan University, and Jefferson Medical College.

In 1960, he joined the U.S. Public Health Service and was assigned to the Mescalero Apache Reservation in south-central New Mexico.

He and his wife, Nancy Muth Clements, had many happy times living and working with the Native Americans in a beautiful mountain setting, his family said.

After returning to the Main Line, he joined Joseph T.L. Nicholson and James G. Mackey in a partnership that evolved into Devon Family Practice at 139 Berkeley Rd., Devon.

Dr. Clements devoted nearly 30 years, starting in 1961, to caring for patients and teaching at Bryn Mawr Hospital.

In 1990, he retired from practice due to a heart condition but continued to teach residents in the Family Practice Residency Program at the hospital.

He joined the volunteer faculty at Jefferson Medical College, where he taught introductory clinical medicine to freshman and sophomore students. He also lectured at the school's college of nursing and served on its admissions committee.

He was very busy; the only difference between his retirement and his working days was that "the phone didn't ring in the middle of the night," said his daughter Laura Clements Robinson.

Dr. Clements received many accolades, including the first Volunteer Teaching Award presented by the Jefferson Chapter of Alpha Omega Alpha, a medical honor society.

Dr. Clements was devoted to Jefferson alumni, planning his 50th class reunion. He also enjoyed reunions with his classmates in the Haverford School Class of 1949, with whom he stayed close over the years.

Throughout his life, he enjoyed fishing, hiking, and clamming at the family home in Cutler, Maine. He worked with a professor from the University of Maine searching for artifacts to confirm early Viking settlements there. Although the activity was engrossing, nothing definitive was found.

In addition to his daughter and wife of 58 years, he is survived by another daughter, Lucy P.; three grandsons; and a sister.

A celebration of his life will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, at Old Saint David's Church, 763 S. Valley Forge Rd., Wayne.

Dr. Clements was laid to rest Friday, Jan. 23, in the graveyard at Old St. David's Church. His grandfather was the church's rector for many years.

Contributions may be made to the Bryn Mawr Hospital Foundation, 130 S. Bryn Mawr Ave., Bryn Mawr, Pa. 19010, or to the Haverford School Fund, 450 Lancaster Ave., Haverford, Pa. 19041.