William Henry Becker

William H. Becker passed away on November 19th at the age of 80, surrounded by two of the things he most loved: his family and the music of Handel.

The best way to describe Bill is in the first-person plural. He was a "we" person, not a "me" person. He cherished and nurtured his relationships, his many friendships, and was never happier than when in the company of others.

Born on March 28, 1943, in New York City, Bill Becker grew up in NYC and Long Island, initially in a household managed by his mother, aunt, and grandmother, while Bill's father served in the Navy in World War II. After graduating from high school in 1960, Bill went to Muhlenberg College, where he earned his B.A. in 1964 and, more importantly, met his future wife, Ruth Anne.

From there, Bill was accepted into Johns Hopkins, where he earned his Ph.D. in History in 1969. As a newly minted Ph.D., he was hired by the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), where he served from 1969 to 1980, earning the rank of Associate Professor in 1973. As Bill was launching his professional career, he was also starting a family. His oldest daughter, Megan, was born in June of 1968, and he and Ruth Anne welcomed their second daughter, Lauren, in 1972.

In 1980, Bill began his 38-year-long career at George Washington University (GWU), starting as a visiting professor before being hired as an Associate Professor in 1982. He would go on to serve as a Professor of History and Strategic Management & Public Policy (beginning in 1983) and later serve two terms as Chair of GWU's Department of History. Along the way, he authored, co-authored, and published many significant scholarly works, most of them focused on the history of domestic and international economic institutions. Bill's final book, Eisenhower and the Cold War Economy: Economic Policy Making in the 1950s, kindled a deep affection in him for our 34th President, and Bill never missed an opportunity to tell people that, even though he was a lifelong Democrat, he believed Ike was our most underrated President.

It is notable that his Eisenhower book and others were co-authored by his long-time writing partner, "Mac" McClenahan. Bill was certainly capable of speaking authoritatively in his own voice, but he preferred to work collaboratively.

And that is the essence of William H. Becker.

He was a gifted conversation partner. Whatever the subject, he never engaged in "small talk," per se, simply because he was genuinely interested in the people he was around and always wanted them to feel welcome and comfortable. Nor did he ever really "hold forth." Instead, he engaged and conversed.

It's no surprise that Bill made lifelong friends at every key juncture of his life. His best friends from college joined Bill and Ruth Anne for a family vacation in Ocean City, New Jersey, every year for over half a century. In the late 1970s, they expanded their beach circle to include the family of one of Ruth Anne's childhood friends, and what began as six people would soon grow to 24 and encompass three generations. In fact, if you sit on the right bench on the Ocean City boardwalk, you'll see a plaque commemorating the special friendship of the "Beach Bunch."

Bill also built unbreakable bonds with the other young professors at UMBC. From play dates when their children were growing up to playing charades every New Year's Eve for decades, these friendships endured and grew well beyond their brief time as work colleagues.

Bill's personality made him a natural fit for his adopted hometown of Columbia, Maryland. Columbia was one of America's first planned communities, which prioritized and promoted social interaction. Bill and Ruth Anne took great pride in being some of the earliest residents of this "garden for growing people." They quickly became ardent supporters of the local arts scene - in particular the Candlelight Concert Society music series, which included welcoming countless musicians and concert-goers into their home for post-show parties. Bill was also an active member of St. John United Church.

In his later years, there was nothing Bill loved more than doting over his grandchildren. He never missed a birthday party, performance, or graduation ceremony. A teacher to the end, Bill was always sending his grandchildren books or forwarding them articles he thought they might find interesting.

Above all, Bill was Ruth Anne's best friend. They raised two daughters, whom they adored. They traveled the world visiting nearly two dozen countries across five continents. But Bill Becker's natural state was being at Ruth Anne's side listening to chamber music or watching British mysteries.

Bill is survived by Ruth Anne, his daughters, Megan Becker of Las Vegas and Lauren Robertson of Silver Spring, Maryland; two grandchildren: Caroline and Beck; his brothers, Donald Becker of Fredericksburg, Virginia and Robert Becker of Winter Springs, Florida; and several nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life service will be held at St John United Church in the Wilde Lake Interfaith Center, 10431 Twin Rivers Rd, Columbia, MD 21044, on Friday, December 15th. Family will receive visitors at 10:30 a.m.-11:00 am. The memorial service will begin at 11:00 a.m., followed by a light lunch on site. Interment will be at a later date. The service will be livestreamed at: Streaming Now - Wilde Lake Center, Wedding Venue, Receptions, Business Meetings, Event Space, Columbia MD beginning just before 11:00 a.m. For more information, contact sjucolumbia@gmail.com.