Stanley Dutton Willis, a retired English teacher at St. Albans school, died April 11, 2024, at the Sunrise Assisted Living Facility of natural causes. He was 95 years old.

Mr. Willis taught generations of St. Albans students in his 30 years at the school how to write and to read critically. In addition to his academic responsibilities, he at various times oversaw Admissions to the Upper School, dormitories for the boarding students and acted as faculty advisor to the student literary magazine, Gyre,

Born on June 22, 1928, in Washington, DC, he was one of a long line of Marylanders and Washingtonians. His paternal grandfather, who was still alive in the 1930's, was in the audience at Ford's Theatre the night of Lincoln's assassination! His association with St. Albans began with his enrollment. In the fourth grade there in 1938 where he was taught by that generation's stellar teachers who helped to inform his later teaching style. After graduating from St. Albans, he studied at American University and the University of Mexico before starting his teaching career at Randolph-Macon and Trinity School in New York. He confessed that he had been hopeless at drill at Randolph-Macon and was relieved to return "home" to St. Albans in 1955.

Off campus, he was from an early age an admirer of poets Emily Dickinson and Robinson Jeffers, and managed a pilgrimage to meet the latter in California in 1948. He collected autographs and was always on the lookout for rare or first editions, scouring Washington's then plentiful supply of used bookstores, such as Loudermilks. He was a fine poet himself.

He was active in community affairs, serving on the Board at the Westchester where he bought his first apartment in 1957. He is survived by several cousins in the immediate area, but equally to the point. He is also survived by generations of students who can be considered his intellectual children.

A memorial service will be held on May 11 at the Little Sanctuary of St. Albans at 10 a.m. Those wishing to make donations in his memory are requested to give either to the endowment fund of St. Albans School or the Westchester 2000+ fund. Information about the latter can be gotten from the Westchester (202) 338 7700. Interment at Rock Creek cemetery will be private.

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Published by The Washington Post from Apr. 20 to Apr. 24, 2024.

Memories and Condolences
for Stanley Willis

6 Entries

Laura Wallace

June 3, 2024

Stanley was my grandmother's cousin but was born the same year as my mother, Ann Nugent Butler. My mother and Stanley were very close so consequently cousin Stanley was always in my life. After my mother passed in 2001 I communicated more frequently with Stanley, to honor their friendship and in memory of my mother. Stanley was a big encouragement to my art and I always enjoyed talking with him and visiting when I could. He was the one who could connect all the dots in the family stories. He was the last of that generation in my family and I will miss him. I want to thank Stanley's dear friends, Jim, Cary, and Michael, who were really his local family, for the many years of friendship and for the care they gave to Stanley in his last years.

Robert Ward

May 8, 2024

This is Robert Ward writing again. I wrote a message on my phone first. I didn't notice that the message would delay 24 hours before posting. I hadn't filled in my details of name and email, and when I didn't see the post, I though it must have been deleted, so I wrote another message, much the same as the first. Please choose whichever one you deem the better, if you would. Thank you for the understanding.

Robert Ward

May 8, 2024

Stanley Willis was my cousin and although I always referred to him as Uncle Stanley, he was my godfather. He was very devoted to his first cousin, my mother, Nancy Jane Cramer Ward, and our family. My parents impressed upon me as a child that I had this special relation in life, and I was very touched to know that there was significant presence out there in the world for me.
Stanley took his role to heart, and generously and consistently showed up for me in his kind and caring manner throughout my life. Eventhough I moved far away from home to Hawaii and made my family there, we maintained the strong bond with a consistent correspondence throughout the years, until his last days.
Stanley lived a long, giving, loving, and rewarding life. He stayed very close to our family throughout his life, the Ward clan of Horace and Nancy Ward from Bethesda, Maryland.
Rest in Peace my dear Uncle Stanley.
Much love on your journey home.

Karen Hunter

April 22, 2024

Stanley was a member of my family for thirty years - a generous, gentle man. I valued his history lessons, his insistence on the use of proper grammar, and - for many years - the gift of his annual Christmas poems. May he rest in peace after a long life well-lived.

Sally Ward

April 20, 2024

Cousin Stanley, my mother's cousin and the last of his generation, was a lovely guy, a devoted family archivist, a loving son. I will miss him and his many family stories. He passed along to me many family memories, artifacts, and documents. And I have a wonderful collection of his poems. He lived a long and giving life. And he was ready to go. Still, sad to lose him.

Willem Polak

April 20, 2024

A great teacher and a better individual. Time spent in his classroom and later years after STA are cherished memories of simply getting through classes such as his. Life lessons all, with enormous smiles.

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