April 21, 1947—Nov. 3, 2009

Dr. Paul H. Wierzbieniec of Amherst, a retired orthopedic surgeon and founder of Northtowns Orthopedics, died unexpectedly Tuesday in Estero, Fla., where he has a second home. He was 62.

Born in Lackawanna, Dr. Wierzbieniec earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and his medical degree from the University at Buffalo. He completed his orthopedic residency training at Albany Medical Center in 1975.

During a more than 30-year career in orthopedics, he founded Northtowns Orthopedics, the area’s first multispecialty orthopedics group, in the 1980s. He also served in leadership positions for several organizations, including as president of the University at Buffalo Medical School Alumni Association.

He retired in 2005.

A golfer, he was a past president of Crag Burn Golf Club.

Survivors include his wife, the former Ellen T. Lagonegro; a daughter, Beth; two sons, Paul M. and Andrew J.; his father, Henry; and a sister, Joan Nowak.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 a. m. Monday in St. Benedict Catholic Church, Main Street and Eggert Road, Eggertsville.