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61; retired Wellesley Public Schools art director
Wellesley - Richard H. Willemann of Wayland died on Friday, Sept. 19, 2008, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He was 61.
Born in New York City on Feb. 24, 1947, he was the son of the late Howard F. and Ethelyn (Lansmith) Willemann.
He served as captain in the U.S. Marine Corps from June 1969 to March 1972.
Rich retired as K-12 Director of Art for the Wellesley Public Schools in 2004. He began his career in Wellesley in 1974 after completing his undergraduate and graduate degrees at Pratt Institute.
He is survived by his wife, Diane Campbell.
A visitation was held on Tuesday, Sept, 23, in the J.S. Waterman & Sons & Waring Funeral Home, Wellesley.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Stray Pets In Need of MA, Inc. (SPIN), P.O. Box 812143, Wellesley, MA 02482, or to Parmenter Community Health & Wayside Hospice, 266 Cochituate Road, Wayland, MA 01778.
Obituary and guestbook printed in the Boston Globe / Boston.com
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Derek Miller
I haven't checked this website in a long time, and on impulse checked the section In Memory. I am very sad to hear of Mr. Willemann's death.
When at Wellesley, and for a time after in college, I thought i might orient towards art. I was in his art classes for all four years, and I seriously considered going to the Rhode Island School of Design, but in the end chose Sarah Lawrence College. I figured I would explore art in a more traditional liberal arts setting.
What I learned from him involved how to see, how to look, and how to commit to putting on paper my response to that. I vividly remember using a very hard pencil (which therefore drew lightly) and he told me to use charcoal, get into the piece, and if it didn't come out as I wanted, try again. Stop hedging. Get on with it.
I just published my first novel. I'm absolutely certain that some of his character and ways of teaching have stayed with me and affected how I write.
He was a great teacher, and I wish I'd had the maturity at the time to realize it, so I could have been a better student. But I'm grateful for that time and continue to try and learn my lessons.
With thanks and sincere appreciation.
Derek Miller
Derek Miller
I mentioned, some time ago, that Mr. Willemann was extremely influential on me as an artist when I was in high school. I eventully became a writer, not a painter, but some of the fundamental lessons stayed with me and have proved transferable.
In my forthcoming book, QUIET TIME (Audible Originals, 2020), I pay an homage to him and some of his lessons.
Respectfully,
Derek Miller