In Memoriam

Sharing news about the passing of Williams faculty, staff and retirees.

The Death of Sandra Montgomery

Williams mourns the passing of retired staff member Sandra Montgomery, who passed away the age of 82, on Friday, January 13, 2023, at her home in Adams, MA. Sandra joined Williams in 1979 and retired from her position as administrative assistant in the Department of Economics in 1999. She is… Continue reading »

The Passing of Tony Williams

Dear colleagues, Williams mourns the loss of Dining staff member Anthony Duane (Tony) Williams, who died at home in North Adams last Tuesday, December 13. He was 61 years old. Born in Elmira, NY, to Ernest and Catherine (Black) Williams, Tony attended Elmira High School and worked for many… Continue reading »

The Passing of Janice Evans

Williams mourns the loss of retired staff member Janice Evans, who died at her home in Clarksburg last Wednesday, December 14. She was 73 years old. Janice joined Williams as as the Human Resources Secretary in late 1986. She continued in that role, with a later title change, retiring as… Continue reading »

The Death of Jay M. Pasachoff

Williams faculty, staff and students, I write, as promised, with a tribute to the late Jay M. Pasachoff, Field Memorial Professor and Chair of Astronomy and Director of the Hopkins Observatory, who died from lung cancer on Sunday. In an obituary earlier this week, The New York Times paid… Continue reading »

The Death of Jay Pasachoff

Williams faculty, students and staff, I write, with sadness, to let you know that Jay Pasachoff, Field Memorial Professor of Astronomy, Director of the Hopkins Observatory and Chair of the Astronomy Department, died this morning. Jay joined Williams in 1972 and taught here for more than 50 years. He was… Continue reading »

The Death of John Chandler

To the Williams community, Williams College has lost a giant of our history. It is with a heavy heart that I write to say that John Wesley Chandler, our 12th president, who served from 1973 to 1985, passed away peacefully early this morning, just a few weeks shy of his… Continue reading »

The Death of Mike Reed ’75

To the Williams community, Yesterday we shared the news that Mike Reed ’75, former Williams trustee and vice president for strategic planning and institutional diversity, had passed away. I write now with a fuller commemoration of Mike, who did so much to transform his alma mater and our world for… Continue reading »

The Passing of C. Ballard Pierce

Dear Williams faculty and emeriti, staff and staff retirees, I write to briefly share sad news about the death of Professor of Physics Emeritus C. Ballard Pierce, who passed away in Gainesville, Fla., on June 18, 2022. The college learned of his passing earlier this week. Ballard Pierce joined the… Continue reading »