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William Frederick Prokasy IV

1930 - 2019

William Frederick Prokasy IV obituary, 1930-2019, Athens, GA

BORN

1930

DIED

2019

William Prokasy Obituary

1930 - 2019 William Frederick Prokasy IV died November 4th, 2019, at home with his loving wife Pamela at his side. Bill was born in Cleveland, OH, on November 27, 1930. Before coming to Athens in 1988 Bill began his varied career at age 12 with quite a few jobs, some of which were paperboy, cemetery maintenance worker, school system custodian, vegetable/fruit roadside marketer, setter of wooden pins in a bowling alley, neighborhood ice cream truck driver, and his favorite, milkman. His academic career began in 1948 when he graduated in North Olmsted, OH, with almost every academic and sports honor bestowed.

A graduate of Baldwin Wallace, Bill held a Masters in Clinical Psychology from Kent State and a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology and Statistics from Madison-Wisconsin. He served on the faculty of Penn State and was Dean at the Universities of Utah and Illinois before coming to Georgia in 1988 where he retired as Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs, Emeritus, in 1998. Bill served on countless Boards, wrote four books and over 70 journal articles.

Always putting others above himself, and putting what was good for more people over that for a few, Bill Prokasy continued to be active after his retirement. Some of Bill's many roles included the following: he served on both the Regional and local Public Library Boards, the Classic Center Foundation Board, the Boards of the Georgia Museum of Art and the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, a member of Athens Torch Club and more. Bill also belonged to two book groups and he and Pam attended as many cultural and sports events as their calendar would allow. They also endowed the Prokasy Professorship of the Arts.

Somehow Bill found time for hobbies of genealogy, photography, and travel. He and Pam were also known to have the party house in their neighborhood, as it was always open to family and friends with any excuse to open a bottle of wine or to play a game with the grandchildren.

To list only immediate family. Bill is preceded in death by his parents, William and Margaret Prokasy, his brother Jim Prokasy and his sisters Marge Salway and Laura Isaacs. In addition to his wife Pam, Bill leaves to grieve for him two daughters, Cheryl Schumer (Larry) of Salt Lake City and Kathi Geisler of the Boston area, as well as two granddaughters, Sarah Glass and Julia Villianeau. Bill also leaves his great grandchildren Zev, Moriah and Tzelia Glass, and Cameron and Jada Villianeau, all of the Boston area. Closer to home, Bill leaves to grieve for him his stepson Kevin Wier of Charleston, SC, and stepdaughter Lisa (Joshua) Cauthen. Their daughters Natalie and Lindsey Cauthen, all of Athens GA, will miss their "Poppy."

A memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be given to the Athens-Clarke County Public Library.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Athens Banner-Herald on Nov. 17, 2019.

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Craig Clark

December 10, 2020

William Prokasy had the most influential role in my career for which I will be eternally grateful. He taught me how to think clearly, with "intellectual honesty" as he was fond to say, and how to write clearly when I was his graduate student at the U of Utah. His high intellectual standards were admired greatly by all graduate students who had the great fortune to study under his tutelage. He provided the most lasting influence throughout my life and I am deeply grieved by his passing.
I only regret that I failed to remain in contact with him as much
as I should have.

Jennifer Sheppard

October 3, 2020

I just fund out about Bills passing and I am sad to hear of your loss . My thought and prayers are with the family.
I would like to be in touch with his widow or another family member regarding his genealogy hobby.

F. Robert (Bob) Treichler

July 1, 2020

i was a former student (Penn State grad student Bill's first year there and a professional colleague ever since joining the Kent State faculty in 1962. I remained in touch over the years and invited him to return to Kent State for a reunion of former students on the occasion of a new building dedication. He seemed to much enjoy that visit and was most gracious. It was a great reunion for all and a wonderful opportunity to reacquaint. Always a competent and caring professional, Bill was a true credit to academia -- and will be long remembered by the many who knew him as a colleague and friend.

Barbara Bohen

March 28, 2020

A real tinge of sorrow at his passing in spite of him living to a good old age. As Dean of Liberal Arts & Sciences at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign he did remarkable things at a very difficult time, 1981, a very bad economy, with the university struggling to keep up standards with insufficient budget. I felt that he was a talented and often misunderstood man who had the courage of his own convictions, as he fended off a barrage of requests for funds from all quarters. He set LAS on a great course to improving quality, based on an amazing talent to drain every atom of value out of a dollar. In that step alone he raised up the stature of the whole university. Also the Spurlock Museum (World Heritage) would not now exist were is not for Bill, who inherited from the prior administration a view of the museum that it should be shut down, but realized very soon that it did have some merit as an LAS institution, if I could keep it afloat on a shoe-string. He put the staff of his office to work in support of the museum's administrative needs, saying any letters or other items that needed to be produced could be sent to his own staff to complete. In time his staff were churning out about 30 letters a day, some reduplicated over a hundred times as I did what I was told to do raised funds. Finally his office was producing quarterly installments of a fundraising Heritage newsletter, when he finally cried Uncle and gave me another staff member. Asked by someone whether the museum was part of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences he replied no, that LAS was part of the museum. Remembered with great fondness. Barbara Bohen

Nancy Mccowen

March 19, 2020

Pam, I just saw that Bill passed away in November. Please accept my deepest sympathies. I worked with Bill in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Illinois. I give him credit for boosting my career. He always had faith in my work. It is amazing that so many years have passed since he left Illinois. Hope that that this message of condolences is still able to be read by you.

Pam Prokasy

November 24, 2019

Thank you all so very much for your remarks here in the Guest Book. They mean so very much to me.

Pam Prokasy

November 24, 2019

I am very blessed to have had over 20 years with this fun-loving guy.

Dan and Charlotte Mantooth

November 22, 2019

A very kind and caring individual. Bill was such an asset to our community at Wood Lake serving in many various offices on The Board Of Directors for a many number of years. Bill and Pam were always willing to open their home to our neighborhood "get togethers" which Bill certainly enjoyed the fellowship of all the neighbors. He will certainly be missed.

Emily Prather Smith

November 19, 2019

Dr. Prokasy always treated me with kindness and appreciation for my service to UGA and the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Comm. I always enjoyed seeing him at the Peabody Awards in NYC!! My sympathy to the family.

Janice Simon

November 19, 2019

My deepest condolences to his family. The University and Athens benefited so much from Bill's generosity and communal spirit. I thank him for the many initiatives he enacted as Provost but most of all for his Study in a Second Discipline initiative for faculty which I and several of my colleagues got to do over the years. It was truly transforming. With respect and fondness Bill, we will miss you. --Janice Simon

Terry Kay

November 18, 2019

Since moving to Athens in 1997, I have met few people as impressive and accomplished as Bill Prokasy. His passing is a significant loss to the community and to his many friends and admirers.

Cheryl Schumer

November 17, 2019

Cheryl Schumer

November 17, 2019

Cheryl Schumer

November 17, 2019

A truly fine person, and a wonderful role model. Love you, Dad.

I will miss you, dad. Love, Kathi

Kathi Geisler

November 16, 2019

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