Dr. William Krivit spent his life seeking cures for some of the world's most devastating and rare childhood diseases. He also helped build one of the nation's first pediatric transplant programs at the University of Minnesota.

A pioneer in the use of cord blood and bone marrow to treat disease in children, Krivit retired from the university faculty in 1999 but was still consulting on cases weeks before his Dec. 8 death from lung and heart failure. He was 80 and lived in Arden Hills.

Driven by a desire to help children and take on the biggest challenges, Krivit often worked on the experimental edge, his ideas sometimes earning the skepticism of his peers. Colleagues, though, say he ultimately saved and prolonged the lives of many children.

"People thought he was nuts when he first started. They used to call him 'Wild Bill' because he used to have all these ideas about what he could do," said Elsa Shapiro, a professor of pediatrics and neurology who collaborated with Krivit for 20 years. "He took risks where other people wouldn't."

Krivit focused much of his work on rare, malignant metabolic illnesses in children -- especially leukodystrophies, disorders that cause the brain's white matter to degenerate. The culprit is a genetic defect that keeps the body from producing a needed enzyme. Krivit believed that through bone marrow and cord blood transplants, enough of the enzyme could be transferred to slow the brain's deterioration. Other scientists didn't think enough of the enzyme would make it into the brain. Krivit found it could and was working to refine the process.

Born in Jersey City, N.J., Krivit showed a sharp intellect and a willingness to bend the occasional rule. As a premed student at Duke University, he often unlocked a window in the medical library before leaving so he could sneak in after hours to study overnight undetected, his wife, Chyrrel Krivit, said.

He earned a medical degree at Tulane University in 1948 and, after a one-year internship in New Orleans, won a pediatrics residency at Utah School of Medicine in Salt Lake City.

After a stint as an Air Force pediatrician, he came to the University of Minnesota in 1952 and became a full professor in 1962. He trained more than 75 fellows, many now among the best in their fields worldwide, and published more than 400 manuscripts. In 2003, he won the Distinguished Career Award of the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.

Many parents were grateful for Krivit's work. A dozen families or former patients posted thanks on Krivit's online memorial during the past few days.

Dean Suhr and his wife traveled from Oregon to the University of Minnesota in 1995, hoping to help their 10-year-old daughter Darcee, who had metachromatic leukodystrophy. Krivit performed a transplant using bone marrow from Darcee's older sister.

"He was very good at balancing hope -- never lose hope -- with the reality that this (treatment) is experimental ...," Suhr said.

In addition to his wife, Krivit is survived by three sons, Robert, Daniel and Michael; a daughter, Kim Krivit-Chase; a sister, Beth; and four grandchildren. A memorial celebration of his life and career will be held at 1 p.m. Jan. 21 at Coffman Union on the university's Twin Cities campus.

Paul Tosto can be reached at ptosto@pioneerpress.com