| William H. Orsinger |
2009
William H. "Bill" Orsinger, 87, a family doctor with a private practice in Arlington County from 1958 until 1979 and later a
staff physician for the Central Intelligence Agency in Langley until 1986, died July 11 at his home in Arlington of
congestive heart failure.
In 1948, Dr. Orsinger began his medical career on the staff of the District's former Lorton Correctional Facility in Virginia,
where he was the medical officer of the workhouse and women's division. Three years later, he became the chief
medical officer of the D.C. jail and started to build a private practice in Arlington during his free time.
From 1956 to 1958, he was a surgeon with the U.S. Public Health Service, fulfilling his obligation to the Navy, which paid
for his medical education. He was based at the U.S. Consulate in Naples, examining refugees interested in immigrating to
the United States. He also traveled to other countries, including Austria and Yugoslavia.
William Hubert Orsinger, a native of Chicago, moved to the District in the early 1930s and was a 1939 graduate of St.
John's College High School. He received a bachelor's degree in biology in 1943 from Catholic University and a
medical degree from George Washington University in 1947.
He was a charter member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and served on the board of directors of
Northern Virginia Doctors Hospital. He helped found the Arlington County Medical Society.
He had been a resident of Arlington since 1958 and attended church at Missionhurst of Arlington, a Roman Catholic
missionary congregation in the Arlington Diocese.
He self-published a memoir in 2007, "My Family Practice Journey, a Prescription for Happiness." During retirement, he
was a volunteer videographer with Arlington's cable TV station.
He had been a volunteer with the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum at the National Arboretum since 1988, and he
tended to a collection of more than 150 bonsai trees at his home.
His wife of 60 years, Viola Nevy Orsinger, died in 2005. A daughter, Rebecca Orsinger, died in 1965.
Survivors include three children, Michael Orsinger of Purcellville, Barbara Adolfson of Fairfax County and Janet McIntyre
of Spring Hill, Tenn.; 10 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
-- Lauren Wiseman
William H. "Bill" Orsinger, 87, a family doctor with a private practice in Arlington County from 1958 until 1979 and later a
staff physician for the Central Intelligence Agency in Langley until 1986, died July 11 at his home in Arlington of
congestive heart failure.
In 1948, Dr. Orsinger began his medical career on the staff of the District's former Lorton Correctional Facility in Virginia,
where he was the medical officer of the workhouse and women's division. Three years later, he became the chief
medical officer of the D.C. jail and started to build a private practice in Arlington during his free time.
From 1956 to 1958, he was a surgeon with the U.S. Public Health Service, fulfilling his obligation to the Navy, which paid
for his medical education. He was based at the U.S. Consulate in Naples, examining refugees interested in immigrating to
the United States. He also traveled to other countries, including Austria and Yugoslavia.
William Hubert Orsinger, a native of Chicago, moved to the District in the early 1930s and was a 1939 graduate of St.
John's College High School. He received a bachelor's degree in biology in 1943 from Catholic University and a
medical degree from George Washington University in 1947.
He was a charter member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and served on the board of directors of
Northern Virginia Doctors Hospital. He helped found the Arlington County Medical Society.
He had been a resident of Arlington since 1958 and attended church at Missionhurst of Arlington, a Roman Catholic
missionary congregation in the Arlington Diocese.
He self-published a memoir in 2007, "My Family Practice Journey, a Prescription for Happiness." During retirement, he
was a volunteer videographer with Arlington's cable TV station.
He had been a volunteer with the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum at the National Arboretum since 1988, and he
tended to a collection of more than 150 bonsai trees at his home.
His wife of 60 years, Viola Nevy Orsinger, died in 2005. A daughter, Rebecca Orsinger, died in 1965.
Survivors include three children, Michael Orsinger of Purcellville, Barbara Adolfson of Fairfax County and Janet McIntyre
of Spring Hill, Tenn.; 10 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
-- Lauren Wiseman