In Memory

William James Wyman



 
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05/24/17 05:30 PM #1    

Kevin Lee Markey

A few years after settling in Colorado, I ran into Bill Wyman.  I can't remember if it was at the Conference on World Affairs or at the Colorado Mahlerfest.  He was a fan of both CWA and Gustav Mahler.  Indeed, he was a fan of most late-Romantic classical music.  Check out his Facebook page, and the usual popular music is absent.  In its place are "likes" for Richard Strauses, Chopin, Lizst, Shostakovich, Prokofieff, Berlioz, and Mahler.  His yearbook signature concluded "Keep appreciating Peter Illych and the boys and I'll see you in town in the future."  Little did I know "town" would be Boulder, Colorado.  Whenever I'd lose track of Bill, I'd find him at the next Mahlerfest.  

Until last year.  Our invitation to our annual Summer Solstice pot luck came back undeliverable.  And I didn't see him at Mahlerfest.  With the KW reunion and another Mahlerfest (for which I had some free tickets) approaching, I started looking, only to find via Google a tiny news article of a fatal auto crash in Utah, in which a "William Wyman" of Boulder, Colorado, was killed.  There was no obituary or notice or anything else confirming his passing.   I reached out to some of his friends and finally was able to confirm his death.  

Although our lives usually crossed only at CWA and Mahlerfest, I dearly loved him.  During a period of my life when I was searching for direction, I would stop at his little house near the University of Colorado, and we would talk for hours.  We had many of the same sensibilities and loves.

One of his deepest loves was for the Conference on World Affairs at CU.  Originally a celebration of the United Nations, it evolved into a week-long discussion of world affairs from political, scientific, and artistic perspectives that defies definition or explanation.  He served as "Secretary to the Conference" and assistant to founder and director Howard Higman in 1982 and 1984 through 1988.  He stayed on as an assistant to another dean or VP at CU for a number of years, and then started a small computer and telecommunications consulting practice after leaving CU.  He was deeply hurt when CU briefly stopped the Conference and then Higman died.  It resumed the next year, but Bill left his role at the Conference.  

He did include Kenmore West Alumni as one of his "liked" groups.  


05/25/17 12:14 PM #2    

Lois DiStefano (Boubong)

What am amazing tribute.He was fortunate to have you as a friend. Thanks so much for posting this.


05/25/17 12:34 PM #3    

Bradley Albing

I always enjoyed talking with him back at KW. He lived down the street from me (Tremaine) and we shared some similar interests in technology. But he was way above me on matters of art and humanities. I'm sad to hear of his passing.


05/25/17 05:34 PM #4    

Michael John Worczak

I remember Bill as being a real intellectual and not a phony one but the real deal and he once told me he pictured hi self in retirement as living in a Parkside cabin, smoking a pipe and writing his philosophy. It sounds like he ended up doing just that. 


05/25/17 06:34 PM #5    

Michael John Worczak

LakesIde Cabin.


05/26/17 09:46 AM #6    

Barbara Vivier

I remember Bill.  He and I attended a Rolling Stones concert, in junior year. A great memory.  Bill was also a poet and encouraged me to write poems which I enjoyed doing.

He and I exchanged emails maybe 25 years ago and he was doing well.  

 

 

 

 


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