In Memoriam

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 »

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 »

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 »

With sadness, Williams notes the passing of retired Director of Campus Security Ransom Jenks, who passed away in Wilmington, Delaware, on June 24, 2022. In addition to his career at the college, Ransom was a U.S. Air Force veteran and served as a Williamstown Selectman. For a full tribute to… Continue reading »

Williams faculty and staff, I write, with sadness, to announce the death of Robert F. Dalzell Jr., the Frederick Rudolph ’42 Class of 1965 Professor Emeritus of American Culture. Professor Dalzell passed away late last week after a brief hospitalization. Bob earned his B.A. from Amherst College and his Ph.D. Continue reading »

Williams faculty and staff, With a heavy heart I write to share the news that Colleen Little, special assistant to the vice president for the Office of College Relations and director of principal giving strategy, passed away this morning at the age of 48. Continue reading »

Williams faculty and staff, I write, with sadness, to honor the memory of Andrea Pohoreckyj Danyluk, Mary A. and William Wirt Warren Professor of Computer Science, Emerita, who passed away yesterday at the age of 59, after a long struggle with pancreatic cancer. Andrea, who only retired from active teaching… Continue reading »

Williams mourns the loss of retired staff member Bill Lewis, who passed away at age 83 at his Williamstown home on Monday, February 14, 2022. Bill joined Williams in 1991, as a custodian in what was then known as the Building and Grounds Department. This followed… Continue reading »

I write to share the sad news that Donald Beaver, Professor of History of Science, Emeritus, passed away last weekend. Don came to Williams in 1971 and soon after founded our Department of History of Science—“one of the college’s first interdisciplinary departments,” to quote his retirement citation. His… Continue reading »

With sadness, Williams notes the passing of retired College Chaplain Bob Buckwalter on Saturday, January 15, 2022. Bob arrived at Williams as college chaplain in July 1991, after having served as pastor of the Japanese American Ethnic Church in Alameda, CA, and of Congregational churches in… Continue reading »