William McKay Littell

Born to Alvey and Ray Littell. Spent his first eighteen years in the Yosemite Valley, where his parents worked and he imprinted the many images of, and drew many lessons from, its spectacular wild lands and wildlife. Attended college in California and Washington, earned a PhD in clinical psychology at Claremont College, taught psychology at San Francisco State College (now University) from 1960-1993, to undergraduates and graduate students seeking careers in the field. For most of those years he represented and advocated for faculty in his union (CFA) and in faculty governance. He was a "wanderer" in the western states and throughout the world, from Africa to Australia and Antarctica, with stops between in Europe, China, Mexico, and other parts of Latin America.

A dreamer and an empiricist/mathematician, a creative spirit who taught himself the arts of origami and Navajo weaving, a cook who prepared elderberry and lemon meringue pies as easily as he did his special black beans. A born punster, a fan of mystery novels, music, and cats. A resident of San Francisco for many years, Bill died of natural causes after a long illness. He leaves behind his son Stuart and his partner Pamela Marvel, son Warren, daughter Cynthia, stepdaughter Erika and her husband Loren, grandchildren Jack and Lucy, and life partner Jan.