William Bernard "Bill" Coleman

William (Bill) Bernard Coleman William "Bill" Bernard Coleman, born May 17, 1925, died Jan. 28, 2014. A longtime resident of State College, Bill finally let go of a long, rich and cherished life last week. Born in Connecticut and raised in New York City, Coleman served as an infantryman in the 28th division in WWII, was captured twice and made a prisoner of war three times in Nazi Germany. After the war, Bill graduated from the Pennsylvania State University majoring in English. In 1951 Coleman opened his first photographic portrait studio in State College. For more than three decades, he crafted his signature portrait sessions with thousands of residents, families, and business leaders in the central Pennsylvania region. His body of work, spanning more than sixty years, has been exhibited at the National Press Gallery in Washington D.C., The Pennsylvania State House, Wolfson College at Oxford University, UK, B.A.S.F. Gallery in Frankfurt, Germany, and others. His work with the Amish is recognized and celebrated as the foremost photographic documentation of the Amish that has ever been done. Bill is survived by his daughter Nina Davis, of Spring Island, S.C.; son, Noah Coleman; son-in-law, Justin Wheeler, of State College; grandson, Tomasso Piccirilli of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; niece, Carol Meschkow, of Plainview, N.Y.; and cousin, Judy Kirsch of N.Y., N.Y. Bill enjoyed deep and long-lasting friendships with many who outlived him and some who didn't. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Clinic for Special Children in Strasburg and/or please take a picture of something that makes you happy and share it at the upcoming memorial for Bill. Memorial date and location to be announced.