Environmental medicine pioneer, Dr. William Rea, has died

by | Aug 17, 2018 | Chemical Sensitivity News, Electrical Sensitivity News, Featured, NEWS | 10 comments


Dr. William Rea


It’s with deep regret that we share that Dr. William Rea passed away yesterday, August 16, 2018. He wasn’t feeling well and went home from work early. His wife was with him.

Susi Lippuner, Planet Thrive member and former patient of Dr. Rea, eloquently shared on her Facebook page today:

Yesterday, the world also lost William Rea, a man very dear to me. He made a huge difference in my healing and wellness process. I will deeply miss him. He was always willing to say that he didn’t have all the answers and encouraged me to find my own solutions. He believed and respected me when many others didn’t and he helped me make sense of all that I had experienced. Dr Rea had been a cardiovascular surgeon who became chemically sensitive from anesthesia exposure in the OR, and therefore turned his attention to himself and the increasing numbers of chemically sensitive individuals in the world. His life work was to do research, promote treatment, and give voice and advocacy to my often ridiculed and disempowered community. He worked until the end, he was in his mid 80’s. His commitment was vast and his care legendary. He will be deeply missed. Dr. Rea, All blessings to you and your family, sir.

Planet Thrive member Susan Silver wrote “This is heartbreaking news. William Rea, MD, was one of the pillars of modern Environmental Medicine, having saved many lives and contributed seminal research to the field. The loss to the EI community and the world at large is incalculable.”

Doctor Rea also generously answered questions on his own column on this Planet Thrive website for a few years. We are so grateful for all he has done for people with environmental illness. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife and family, his co-workers at the EHC-D clinic, and all of his patients, at this time.

The EHC-D will continue to treat Dr. Rea’s current patients. Dr. Rea’s memorial service will be live streamed on Saturday, September 29th, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. If you are interested in viewing the service, call the church at 972.233.7106 for more information.

10 Comments

  1. jane

    August 16 saw the passing of Elvis. Aretha. now Dr. Rea.
    all inspirational people who healed the world.

  2. Katherine Wallman-Hidek

    God blessed Dr. Rea with wisdom and insight so that he could help countless people. May the Lord comfort his loved ones.

  3. Betsy Thompson

    Dr. Rea I can’t thank you enough for not only figuring out what was wrong with me and saving my life.
    Treating me with dignity, giving me the right to thrive, fighting for what I need and working till the end because you loved all of us so much.
    you told me if I don’t take care of all of you who will ?
    All my appreciation and love to his family and his staff at EHC-Dallas who I love like family

  4. Frankie Huffman

    I was a patient of his for over 25 years and in that time he helped so many people. He will be remembered for a very long time. I have heard countless testimonies from people who say he saved their lives. I am one of them! Rest in heavenly peace Dr. Rea!

  5. ann

    I loved Dr. Rea and will miss him for the rest of my days. He was my hero, my mentor my doctor. He was a character and was always kind to me. I woke up last night, I dreamed I was leaning into his office, Estella was next to me touching my shoulder, and his butter cream sweater hanging from his chair, and I knew he was gone. Three days before he died he called me about my Mother who is in heart failure and needs a valve. He went out of his way, calling me three times. He told me to keep looking, she needed a Dr. Rea but sadly I signed hospice papers today even after still asking for another opinion. He was a great man. He championed us all and tried to educate and make us aware and he fought the bs of big pharma big medicine ie money and big chemical. They tried to bring him to his knees and he never fell. He stood up for us all. Humanity and made the canaries feel like we could be hummingbirds one day. Miss you my friend

  6. Lisa Furrh

    Dr. Rea,
    You are one of our best friends you have been there when nobody was there to understand anything that was going on you were there for my family, you were there when I needed the push and sometimes you would really make me mad but I got over it and you would come back and say are you over it yet and of coarse I would crack up laughing and then you would say come in to the office and we will test you,, Love you man and your family. I will miss seeing you at the ranch and coming down there and asking for your advise. RIP Dr. William Rea until we meet again

  7. Deborah Dee Volluz

    I’m devastated to learn of the passing of this great physician. His intelligence and insight, as well as his dedication to healing the “terminal” was a miracle in my life. At a time when I was sent home to die by the regular medical community who offered me nothing for over two years. For two years I went from doctor to doctor trying to figure out what was wrong with me; grieving my life as I grew ever more ill and bewildered. Dr. Rae saved my life. Without ALF and the daily meetings with him for a treatment plan, I never would have seen my son receive his USAF wings; my daughter enter the ranks of law enforcement; my youngest leave for college; or meet my grandchild. He was a true healer. If traditional doctors would only be humble enough to learn from his work, so many more lives could be saved. I will always remember and owe my life to this brave pioneer.

  8. Kathleen M. Prlich

    The passing of Dr. William J. Rea has broken our hearts, but left us with hope, a product of the courage he so brilliantly shined in our world. He was a man who never gave up and we will do well to follow his lead. So many of us were blessed with the gift of his time as he taught us ways to see cells and body systems in crisis, ways to prove the existence and extent of the damage, causes of the dysregulation and damage, and ways to effect cellular healing and body system balance. He was humble, never afraid to learn more and consider alternatives. He saved my daughter’s life when no one else could. I will miss his quick dry wit, his years of knowledge so freely shared, his enthusiasm for methodical science and his artful application of that science. He allowed this lawyer to follow him as he saw patients, and I learned how a physician who is a master conducts appointments with patients. He was smooth, to the point, and full of wisdom. God bless you Dr. Rea, you will be in my heart and mind forever. A prince among men, may you now RIP among the angels hearing the Lord say, “Well done my servant.” Love to you always, Kathleen M. Prlich, Esq. RN

  9. earthwalker

    Thank you to everyone leaving such kind words about Dr Rea. He certainly is appreciated for the legacy he has left us. xoxox

  10. Joanie Tercero

    <3

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