Willard G. Wyman

Willard G. (Bill) Wyman
Resident of La Honda
Willard G. (Bill) Wyman, a long-term resident of La Honda, and a friend to many in the Stanford and Palo Alto community, 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 taught English and was head football and swimming coach at Menlo School. In 1969 he received his doctoral degree from Stanford University, where he had as Special Assistant to then President Richard W. Lyman. 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, friends of the University, and personal friends on eclectic, weeklong 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 memorial service will be held on March 21 from 5 to 7 p.m. Those wishing to attend should be in contact with Gaye Torjusen (gaye@torjusen.com).