William Wallace Vosburgh

1928 - 2014

William Wallace Vosburgh, sociologist and longtime professor at Bryn Mawr College, died at home on Friday September 12, 2014. Bill was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, on December 20, 1928. He attended The Taft School, Yale University and UCLA, completing his PhD in Sociology at Yale in 1961. Before finishing his doctoral studies, he served in the US Navy as a CIC and Operations Officer from 1954-56 retiring from active duty as a Lieutenant Commander. He then continued to serve as an instructor in the Navy Reserve for many years. Bill's professional career was spent almost entirely as a professor at Bryn Mawr College. He joined the Social Work faculty in 1962 and retired in 1994. He taught social theory, research design and organizational theory in the MSS and PhD programs. His ongoing research and publications focused on the design and effectiveness of social service programs. Bill excelled as a mentor and supervisor to his students, directing over 40 PhD theses over his career. These graduates have gone on to serve in multiple academic and senior administrative positions in universities, other academic programs and organizations throughout the country. He met his wife, Miriam, in Wellington, New Zealand, while spending a year there as a Fulbright Fellow, studying New Zealand's social security system. He returned to NZ in later years as part of a team of National Science Foundation-funded scholars to study New Zealand's innovative accident compensation system. Since retiring, Bill has continued his affiliation with Bryn Mawr College as an Emeritus professor. He is survived by his wife, Miriam, and his children, Alinda, William, Roderick and John. William Vosburgh will be remembered for his razor-sharp dry wit, passion for learning, love of history, prodigious memory, gentle demeanor and devotion to his family. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his graveside service on Saturday September 20th, 2 PM at Washington Memorial Chapel Churchyard, Route 23 in Valley Forge Park. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to Montgomery County SPCA, 19 E. Ridge Pike, P.O. Box 222, Conshohocken, PA 19428 Chadwick & McKinney Funeral Home(www.chadwickmckinney.com)