William Frayer

William W. Frayer passed away on February 8, 2025, at age 80 after a long illness. He was surrounded by his children and his aides in his final days at Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, NY.
Bill was born in Syracuse, NY on September 11, 1944, to Leon Webster (Web) Frayer and Esther (Dodd) Frayer. Raised in Schenectady and Endwell, NY Bill attended Cornell University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering in 1966, a master’s in electrical engineering in 1968, and in 1972 graduated from Weill Cornell Medical College (formerly Cornell University Medical College). He remained at Weill Cornell Medical College where he continued into an internship and residency program in pediatrics and later a fellowship in neonatology. He stayed in New York City after his medical training, splitting his time between New York City and a home in Pound Ridge, NY.
Bill spent his entire career at Weill Cornell/New York Presbyterian Hospital as an associate professor of clinical pediatrics in neonatology. He loved taking care of babies and loved teaching the next generations of doctors. In his 37 years as an attending physician, he trained over 100 fellows, and countless residents and nurse practitioners. Bill hoped to be remembered for his work as a professor.
He had a deep interest in computing and acted as the director of clinical information systems at New York Presbyterian Hospital, helping to make New York Presbyterian one of the first hospitals in the country to move from paper to electronic medical records. This work led to travels around the world, most memorably Japan, France and Australia, to teach other hospitals about how to make the transition to electronic medical records.
Bill’s interests were broad and deep“”from programming computers to playing the piano and organ, building and playing harpsichords, collecting stamps, wood working, quilting, needlepoint, making stained glass, teaching himself calligraphy, repairing and selling fountain pens, and collecting what seemed to be every classical music CD ever made“”he was a true Renaissance man.
Bill is survived by his two children, Elizabeth, of New York City, and Eric, of Los Angeles, his daughter-in-law Sarah Frayer, three grandchildren, Theodore and Elliott Frayer and Wilhelmina Milnes, his former wife Joyce Frayer, brother-in-law James Hyla, and many nieces and nephews. His sister, Sharon Hyla, predeceased him.
A wake will be held Saturday, February 15, 2025, from 12-2pm at the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home (104 Myrtle Ave, Stamford, CT 06902) with a prayer service to begin at 2PM at the parlor. Burial will follow.
In remembrance of Bill’s life, the family asks that any charitable donations be made to Cornell’s NICU where he spent his career and where his granddaughter was so lovingly cared for. Checks may be made to “Perinatology Fund” and in the memo, “In memory of Dr. Frayer” and mailed to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Attn: Nazera Pasha, 525 East 68th Street, Box 106, New York, NY 10065.