William C. Scott

William C. Scott

Hanover, NH - William C. Scott passed away quietly on October 13, 2025 in the presence of his wife and children. Known to family and friends as Bill, he is survived by his wife Mary Lyons; his son Charles Scott (Virginia Scott); his daughters Ellen Delaney (Joseph Stanovich) and Alice Paik (David Paik); and six grandchildren: Caitlin Delaney; Lily, Eddie, and Sophie Scott; and Henry and Lyons Paik. He was preceded in death by his father Richard Scott and his mother Alice Scott.

Born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Bill grew up in the Midwest as an only child, largely in Winnetka, Illinois. While encouraged to follow in his father's footsteps in business, he chose his own path-one that led him to a deep love of Greek, Latin, books, and language. He graduated from New Trier High School in 1955 and went on to Princeton University, where he earned his A.B. in Classics in 1959 as Phi Beta Kappa.

After teaching at St. Paul's School in Concord, NH, Phillips Academy Andover, and Loyola Academy in Chicago, Bill returned to Princeton, earning his M.A. in 1962 and Ph.D. in 1964. He also studied at the University of Munich in 1962-63.

Bill met his bride Mary Lyons (Baldwin) when he was in graduate school at Princeton. They began dating in 1963 when she was working in New York City, and they were married in 1964. The next summer Bill had a grant to do research in museums in Europe, and they traveled together throughout the continent visiting Lisbon, Madrid, Paris, Rome, Florence, Frankfurt, Berlin, London, Edinburgh, Dublin, and Shannon. This was the beginning of a lifetime of travel exploration together.

That fall Bill started as Assistant Professor at Haverford College, and in 1966 he joined the Dartmouth College Classics Department, where he would spend his career. Over the following decades, he progressed through faculty and administrative leadership roles, including becoming Professor of Classics and Drama in 1975 and culminating in his appointment as Humanities Distinguished Research Professor in 1988. Among his many contributions to the college, Bill took particular pride in chairing the Task Force on the Library of the 21st Century in 1993, leading the complete renovation and expansion of Baker-Berry Library to ensure it would remain vital to students and faculty in an increasingly digital world.

Bill was the author of six books on classical studies, including Musical Design in Aeschylean Theater (1984), which was awarded the Goodwin Award of Merit by the American Philological Association as the year's best book in the field. Throughout his career, he demonstrated a deep commitment to his students and colleagues, supporting productions of Greek drama and special faculty seminars on world cultures. As a guide on alumni tours to Greece, Italy, Turkey, Egypt, Israel, and the Black Sea, he added insight and fascination.

After retirement, his teaching legacy continued in the Osher Lifelong Learning at Dartmouth program. His classes on Homer and Greek tragedies always filled quickly and got top reviews.

Throughout his life, Bill pursued adventures and experiences beyond his academic and professional life. In his youth, he learned golf, tennis, and ragtime piano. Beyond Latin and Greek, he also learned Spanish, German, Italian, and French. Living in New Hampshire, he took on hiking, downhill and cross-country skiing, and skating. He played squash and tennis regularly with colleagues. His interests ranged widely: in the kitchen, he went through phases of beef fondue, croissants, Peking Duck, and homemade pasta. In art, he created oil paintings and watercolors-from homes to country scenes and still lifes-that his family treasures in their homes today. On the piano he played a lighter musical counter-balance to Mary Lyons' practice for concerts. He taught his children college drinking songs when they were too young to know what they were singing.

Bill enjoyed many family vacations including a whole year in California with Mary Lyons and his children and many trips with children and grandchildren to Sanibel, FL, Sandbridge, VA, and the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, VT. It was important to Bill to promote valuable experiences, family togetherness, and a love of learning.

Bill always encouraged his children to find their own paths, just as he had done. It was important to him to guide from the side and promote independent adventures, such as travel, as a way of self discovery. He helped his children as well as his students to explore and consider the question of what to do with their lives with insight, understanding there was no single "right answer." He loved to ask questions and help them discover themselves.

Bill led with humility, exemplified the joys of lifelong learning, and was generous with his wisdom, assistance, and encouragement for those around him to discover themselves and their purpose. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the William C. Scott, Humanities Distinguished Research Professor, and Family Fund at Dartmouth College. Gifts may be made online at dartgo.org/ScottMemorial or sent to Dartmouth College Gift Recording Office, 6066 Development Office, Hanover, NH 03755.

An on-line guestbook can be found at rand-wilson.com.