William Montagna

William Montagna (born Guglielmo Montagna, 6 July 1913, Roccacasale, Abruzzo, Italy – 16 November 1994, Hillsboro, Oregon) was an Italian-American biologist, known for his anatomical work in dermatology.

Early life and education In 1927 at the age of 13, Guglielmo Montagna, whose father was a skilled blacksmith, emigrated from Italy with his family to Buffalo, New York. In later years he recounted that his first year in the U.S.A. was difficult because "a scuola, non riuscivo a capire neppure una parole inglese" (at school I couldn't understand a single word of English). From 1945 to 1948 he was an assistant professor at the Long Island College of Medicine (now part of SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University). In 1948 he joined the faculty of Brown University. In 1972 he received the SDI's Stephen Rothman Award for achievement in investigative dermatology.

Personal life On September 1, 1939 in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, William Montagna married Helen Fife (1916–2008). They had two daughters, Eleanor and Margaret, and two sons, John and James. the couple divorced in 1975. He would become a Grandfather to seven grandchildren: Maria, Anna, Anthony, Brandon, Makenzie, Maximilian, and Ludovica. William Montagna married his second wife in 1980.

Montagna was a family friend of fellow Italian-American Antonella Tosti whom he inspired in her youth to become a notable dermatologist as well.