Frederic Ballard Westervelt, Jr., MD

Dr. Frederic Ballard Westervelt, Jr. died April 16, 2023.  He was born June 11, 1931 at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, DC to Dr. Frederic Ballard Westervelt (US Army Medical Corp) and Elizabeth Ziegler Westervelt.  Growing up as part of an army family, he moved around the country from Hawaii to Arlington Va. with many stops along the way.  He attended George Washington University for three years then entered the University of Virginia Medical School and graduated in 1955.  He did his internship at the Cleveland Clinic followed by two years of service in the Army Medical Corp returning to UVA in 1959 where he met his wife of 62 years, Ernestine Meyer Henry and on June 18, 1960 they wed.  He then spent two years as a Fellow in Nephrology at Georgetown University, serving under Dr. George Schriener, one of the earliest nephrologists, and he then returned to UVA where he served one year as Chief Medical Resident at the hospital.  The following year, he joined the UVA medical school faculty. 

From 1962-1991, he taught medical students during their 4-year rotation, and later started a Fellowship program for post-doctoral concentrations in Nephrology.  While at UVA, he developed one of the first ever in-house and outpatient dialysis programs and became the first Chief of Nephrology and Dialysis Services and worked closely with surgeons to provide the pre and post-surgical care of organ transplant patients at the University of Virginia.  He established a training program for nephrologists and specialized nurse practitioners, was active nationally in establishing organizations for nephrology, dialysis, and organ sharing, appeared before Congress, and was instrumental in the establishment of the federal program for the care of kidney patients.

In 1991 he left the University of Virginia to establish his own dialysis clinic, Jefferson Nephrology LLC, and also established the dialysis program at nearby Martha Jefferson Hospital also in Charlottesville.  He retired completely on January 1, 2000 and after selling his home on Milton Farm, he retired to Ocracoke NC, his escape from chaos, where he was very active in many local organizations, and where he and Ernie owned and operated the Cove Bed and Breakfast. 

Fred is survived by Ernie, his wife of 62 years, his daughter Karoline(Kari) Westervelt Styron (David) and children Samantha and David III, his son Frederic (Ric) Westervelt III and children Elizabeth and Pyper, and several nieces and one nephew.  He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Ann W. Dixon (Harold).  Following his wishes, he was cremated, and a private memorial service will be held at a later date. 

In lieu of flowers, the family would like memorial donations sent to the First National Bank on Ocracoke at PO Box 458 Ocracoke, NC 27960 in Fred’s name.  These funds will be used to establish an educational scholarship for graduating seniors of Ocracoke School.  Fred was an intelligent, ethical man, always a gentleman, and was dedicated to his family, country, medicine and his patients.  He will be greatly missed by all.

Condolences directed to Joyner’s Funeral Home and Crematory at www.joyners.net.