Willard G. "Bill" Wyman

November 12, 1930 - February 25, 2014 Willard G. (Bill) Wyman, a long-term resident of Ojai and La Honda, died peacefully on February 25 at Stanford Hospital. He was 83 years old. His death was caused by lung cancer. Born in China as the son of a career officer in the United States Army, Bill grew up on series of cavalry posts in Virginia, Kansas, Texas, Washington State, and the nation's capital. He graduated from Colby College in 1956 with a BA in English and in 1969 he received his doctoral degree from Stanford University. From 1971 to 1975, he was dean of students and associate professor of English at his alma mater, Colby College in Maine. In 1975, he returned to California to become headmaster of The Thacher School in Ojai and served with success there until his retirement in 1992. During all these years, he led groups of students, alumni, family and friends on eclectic and memorable pack trips into the High Sierra - trips for which he would become a legend. He was the author of two novels, High Country (2005), and Blue Heaven (2011). He is survived by his two sons, Willard G. Wyman III of Santa Barbara, and his wife Michelle and their three children (Caitlin, Casey and Molly), and Jedediah Fowler Wyman of Corvallis, Oregon; his former wife Jane Fowler Wyman; several nieces and nephews; and by Barbara Saxon, his partner for many years. A private memorial service will be held on March 21 in the Bay Area and another will be held at the Thacher School on April 19. Those wishing to attend the latter should contact Jane McCarthy at (jmccarthy@thacher.org).