William Howard Williams

William (Bill) Howard Williams, 93, of Chatham, NJ passed away peacefully at his home on July 9, 2024 surrounded by his family.
Bill was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. He was predeceased by older sisters, Mabel Williams and Marion Standon. He graduated with a BA in Mathematics and Economics from McMaster University, and an MS and PhD in Statistics, Mathematics, and Economics from Iowa State University. Bill married Vera Marion Standing in Burford, Ontario in 1958. They moved to Chatham in 1960 when Bill became employed by Bell Laboratories as a scientist in the Statistical Methods and Models Division.
Bill had a long and accomplished career in science, academia and as a corporate executive. He recently retired at 92 and was proud of the fact that he had been working since he was nine. He is the author of the book "A Sampler on Sampling" and has published over 75 peer-reviewed research papers on statistical sampling and forecasting, polling methods, clinical trials, financial modeling, employment and productivity, and sports. He has served in many prestigious advisory roles including chairing committees for the White House, US Census Bureau, Department of Energy, and Department of Defense. He is an elected Fellow of the American Statistical Association (highest distinction) and has been honored as a distinguished alumni at McMaster University.
Bill served as an Executive Vice President for AT&T where he ran the Methods and Models Division. Later he became the Executive Director of Polling Operations at Louis Harris Polls.
For the past 40 years Bill was a professor of Mathematics and Statistics at Hunter College. At Hunter, he founded the Hunter College Big Apple Poll, and was the College Ombudsman for 15 years.
Bill loved athletics, especially hockey, and spent many years coaching youth sports. He was a lifelong member of the YMCA and an avid handball and racquetball player. He joined the Chatham United Methodist Church in December 1960 and served on multiple committees throughout the years. He was a member of the Kiwanis club and served terms as president. Bill was a polymath who had a wide range of interests and loved to read. He was an instrument rated pilot and an avid photographer. For the past 25 years Bill enjoyed spending his Summers in the Muskoka Lakes, Ontario.
He is survived by Marion, his wife of 66 years, children Martin (Kathleen), Anne (Rick) and David (Pamela) and his 11 adored grandchildren Chris, Ted, Tanner, Ryan, KC, Victoria, Lucy, Mary, Kevin, Sarah and Tess. He will be greatly missed by all and especially his husky, Chinook.
The service for Bill will be held at the Chatham United Methodist Church on Saturday July 20, 2024 at 11AM, followed by a reception at the Church.
In lieu of flowers, Bill's family would appreciate memorial donations to the Mathematics and Statistics Departments at Hunter College, McMaster University or the Chatham United Methodist Church.
McMaster University

Fund: Department of Mathematics & Statistics
Hunter College

Fund: Department of Mathematics & Statistics
Chatham United Methodist Church
460 Main St, Chatham, New Jersey, 07928
(973) 635-7740
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