Dr. William "Bill" Alison Cumming's Obituary
Dr. William “Bill” Alison Cumming passed away on July 29, 2025, in Gainesville, FL, at the age of 92. He was born on November 11, 1932, in Islip, Long Island, NY, to Canadian parents and moved to Toronto in early childhood, where he spent most of his formative years. Bill will be laid to rest at Prairie Creek Cemetery on Friday, August 8, at 10:00 a.m. surrounded by his family.
He is survived by his wife Susan, his Scottish Terrier Violet and his stepdaughter Mandy. Additionally, he was immensely proud of his six children — Allison (deceased), Andrew, Thomas, Suzanne, Sarah, and Rebecca — and his ten grandchildren: Alissa, Holly, Owen, AJ, Sydney, Travis, Spencer, Isabel, Simon, and Charlie.
Dr. Cumming was a pioneering pediatric radiologist who trained at the University of Toronto and began his career at SickKids, helping advance early imaging techniques for children. In 1981, he accepted a post in pediatric radiology at King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he treated rare and advanced pediatric conditions not often seen in North America. In 1985 he joined the medical faculty at the University of Florida’s Shands Hospital, where his research on non-surgical treatment of intussusception and rare congenital conditions made lasting contributions to the field, retiring Professor Emeritus in 2015.
He was a skilled woodworker who took great pride in the many things he built in his home workshop — most notably a few cedar-strip canoes, built for speed.
Bill had a lifelong love of the wilderness — from crabbing in Sag Harbor as a boy to canoeing all over the world well into retirement. He built a family cottage on the Severn River with his father in 1947, boating in every piece of lumber and raising the structure by hand. He hunted and fished across Ontario and Quebec, camped in the Saudi desert, and later found pure joy in paddling close to home - on the Santa Fe and Itchetucknee Rivers - and further afield on remote northern rivers, including his favorite, the mighty Nahanni.
In later life, Bill found similar joy in exploring the world from the comfort of cruise ships. Together with his beloved wife Susan, he traveled widely — from New Zealand to the Mediterranean — the perfect way to keep discovering new places into his nineties.
He loved exploring Florida’s freshwater springs and was passionate about protecting these fragile ecosystems for future generations. Those wishing to honour William’s memory are invited to make a donation to the Florida Springs Institute, in recognition of his lifelong appreciation for nature and dedication to environmental stewardship. He was also a strong supporter of Doctors Without Borders, appreciating the medical humanitarian assistance they provide all over the world.
What’s your fondest memory of William "Bill"?
What’s a lesson you learned from William "Bill"?
Share a story where William "Bill"'s kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with William "Bill" you’ll never forget.
How did William "Bill" make you smile?