Dennis Watkins Wise, M.D., a former orthopedic surgeon with Winchester Orthopedic Associates in Winchester, Virginia, passed away on January 18, 2024, at his home in Winchester, Virgina at the age of 84.
Wise practiced orthopedic surgery for 40 years as a member of Winchester Orthopedic Associates. His son Tom joined the firm in 2000 and continues his father’s legacy.
Before his retirement in 2014, Wise served thousands of patients at the Winchester Medical Center.
His family wrote, “His care for patients was given with compassion and a commitment to excellence and he felt rewarded each time he helped a patient feel better.”
He received his medical degree from Cornell University Medical College in New York City in 1967 and then did his internship at New York Hospital Cornell Medical Center. While there he served as an assistant surgeon.
Dr. Wise completed his general surgery residency at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital Cornell Hospital and his orthopedic surgery residency at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) also in New York City. After completing his orthopedic residency in 1973, he then did a hand surgery fellowship also at HSS which he completed in 1974.
Dr. Wise was born in 1939 in Greenville, Illinois, to Dale and Grace Watkins Wise. He spent parts of his childhood near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Warren, Ohio. His parents owned Wise Florists in Warren and he worked there as a teen until he went away to college.
He attended Howland High School in Warren and Wheaton College in Illinois, playing basketball for both schools. Wise continued his passion for sports by volunteering as team physician for both the Handley High School and James Wood High School football teams and for serving as chairman of the Winchester Parks. He was also team physician for Team USA at the Deaflympics from 1995 to 2009.
Wise leaves behind his wife of 62 years Kay, daughter Laura, sons Tom and Andrew and his two grandsons Gus and Sam. He is also survived by his daughter-in-law Mary Margaret, his brother and sister, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brother Jerry Wise, sisters-in-law Catherine Wise and Barbara Bergland, and brothers-in-law James Bergland, Richard Bergland and Tom Bergland.
