Eric, Wendy and Joanne have been receiving many touching stories and memories via e-mail and phone--and have enjoyed everyone of them, many making us both laugh and cry.
We thought that everyone who knew Bill might also enjoy reading the anecdotes, tales and special reflections that we've been receiving.
So please tell your stories. We'll print some of them out for the wake.
If you have a longer story or idea for a separate "blog posting" thread, feel free to send it to watersfamily2010@gmail.com
Bill Waters -- Paddling Friend.
ReplyDeleteBill and I were grad students together at Wisconsin, so we are professional colleagues. Bill also introduced me to whitewater kayaking (something i still do and passed on to my two sons), so we are "paddling friends." Anyone does serious whitewater understands the meaning of this term -- you and your paddling buddies share equipment, gas money, food, tent, a bed or floor space, river safety concerns, and stories of river runs. Bill had unique solutions to problems. While building an open canoe in the UW Hoofers shop, he had to varnish the gunwales, which he knew passers-by might touch to see if they were dry or not. Bill's solution was to varnish a small piece of wood and tape it to the canoe with a sign "Touch Me First." Problem solved. Bill touched a lot of lives. Jon Nelson
I have known Bill for six years since I was hired to assist with a CTS move from AudX to ED MacPhee. They also mentioned a Transport Canada project, but I got the feeling that helping Bill move the CTS office was a bigger part of the job. And it was. Since then CTS has moved two more times – to Rix and then to TEF3. Each time CTS moved I was able to get Bill to part with a bit more. In the last couple of years he completely organized all of the papers and presentations he wrote. I like to think it was my organizational influence but sadly, I think he was thinking ahead to a time when he would no longer be here. Now that time has come and I am very much going to miss seeing Bill come to the office on his usual Monday afternoons with always time to stop by my desk to say hello and always an interesting travel or grandchildren story to tell or a small computer problem for me to help him solve. I miss him already.
ReplyDeleteFirst, my condolences to Joanne and the family, a bright spirit has been extinguished, but never in our hearts.
ReplyDeleteI worked with Bill for 15 years as division assistant for Transportation & Logistics and later Operations and Logistics as it combined with another division. Bill & I not only had a great working relationship, but we often shared stories of similar interests. A highlight was when Bill brought me a rusty railroad spike and I was so excited. Everyone in the office wondered why I was so excited about that!
I tell this story because it is the essence of his thoughtfulness: The truth was that we had shared stories of Atlin and Taku, and the little "Duchess" narrow-gauge train that long ago traveled from Scotia Bay to Taku (the engine is on display in Carcross now). The reason for my excitement was because my grandmother as a child from 1901-1908 used to take that little train across the peninsula to Taku when her father was the steam engineer on the paddlewheelers on Atlin Lake. Bill had a friend he visited in Atlin, and had gone over to Taku, and while taking the trail which is the old rail line, picked up some of the original spikes, and knowing my interest brought one to me at work. That is the type of person he was, he knew people, knew their interests, and was ever thoughtful. He shared himself with people and as mentioned obituary, was very active.
Although I retired and moved north 4 years ago, I often thought of him and how special a person he was. I know his parting will leave a large hole in the lives of his family and friends. I feel fortunate to have known him.
To Joanne and to Bill's extended family and his many friends,
ReplyDeleteThe Transportation Community across Canada has lost a valued collegue and friend.
On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Transportation Research Forum I extend our sympathy to you all at this difficult time.
Bill was an active member of CTRF serving on Executive positions leading to 1988-1989 when he served as our President. He contributed regularly to our Annual Conference and over the years (by our count) presented some 23 high quality papers....even presented at last years conference in Toronto.
Bill contributed in many ways to improve the transportation system of this great country and all of Canada is better for his work. That is a fact and all the family should take great pride it that reality.
We are planning a special session for our Annual Conference in 2011 in Gatineau to give tribute to Bill and his work..... the Board has unanimously agreed to this. That is the regard held for Bill and his work.
Again to the family and friends of our friend and collegue, Bill Waters , we send our sincere sympathy.
Doug Johnson
President
Canadian Transportation Research Forum
Bill and I met in August 1969 when both of us started teaching careers at the University of British Columbia. We discovered that we had much in common: new marriages to women we loved and we shared passions for fishing, canoeing, camping, backpacking, beer drinking, hunting and things with engines and wheels. This was the start of over 41 years of a very close friendship. Bill stayed at UBC and had an illustrious career and I moved to the woods for a back to the land life where Bill helped me build our house and where we did lots of hunting and fishing and talking.
ReplyDeleteIn 41 years there were hundreds of Bill Waters stories. One of my favourites occurred when I won a guided fly-in fishing trip to Rivers Inlet and invited Bill to share it with me. Rivers Inlet lived up to its reputation and we caught lots of salmon. Chinook fishing was a bit slow so one day we switched to light weight tackle and fished for coho on the surface. Bill hooked a beautiful fish that suddenly took off flying on the surface like a torpedo. Moments later we saw his fish disappear into the mouth of an orca. For a short time Bill had several thousand kilograms of excitement on the end of his line. This had to be Bill’s best story of the “big one that got away”.
In our later years Bill and I exchanged emails several times a day and met frequently for hunting or fishing and to share stores about our children’s progress, our projects and to solve some of the world’s problems and just enjoy a quiet drink together. Our final hunting trip was this November on Texada Island.
Over the years I have lost my brother Jack, my brother Don, my brother Al and now my brother Bill Waters. I feel a great vacuum in my life. Bill will be so sorely missed by me and the many other people who were touched by his life.
Jo, our thoughts are with you.
ReplyDeleteI first got to "know" Bill from afar - and only by reading his work. Later, I was fortunate to have Bill as a professor when he spent his sabbatical at the University of Tasmania.
Bill had a love of Australia and our family became very close friends with the Waters on their later trips down under and on visits we made to Vancouver.
I have been going through old photos and one of my favourites is of Bill and Jo sitting on camp chairs beside their Toyota Troopie with the Bungle Bungles in the background (far north-west of Australia). As a picture it is something special - landscape photos usually are about the photographer being an observer looking in. But this photo says it all - Bill and Jo were part of the landscape. Bill fully immersed himself in whatever he did and was, and will continue to be, an inspiration.
Our children still talk about staying at the Waters' and the kick they got out of swimming in the hot tub while the snow came down on us (and that was in 1997!)
The last time we saw Bill was in 2007 when we passed through Vancouver on our way to live in Abu Dhabi. Bill and Jo extended their usual warm hospitality and a highlight was going for a spin in Bill's love and pride around West Vancouver. Hair-raising stuff (and I don't have much).
We look forward to reciprocating the hospitality. Jo, your are always welcome in our home.
Bill, our family counts themselves as fortunate to be among your many friends from around the world. We cherish the time we spent together.
Dear Jo, We met briefly at Bill's 50th reunion dinner at Redemptorist Hight School in KC, MO in 2008. As with many of my classmates, I had not seen Bill since that 1958 graduation, so it was delightful to learn where life had taken him, and with whom.
ReplyDeleteI remember Bill as "the smartest boy in the class" hands down, while a number of girls vied for that honor amongst themselves. Clearly he used his many gifts well in his all too-short lifetime.
You and your family will be held in my thoughts and prayer during this difficult time. My you find peace in the journey.
Sr.Mary Kay Liston CSJ
It was with great surprise that Bonita and I learned of Bill's passing. Although I only met him once, at last year's Haskin's reunion, he is a person whose love of life is so memorable, you draw inspiration from him. And so this evening I went through the photos and videos I took at the reunion and put together a Flickr set on Bill (http://www.flickr.com/photos/85934826@N00/sets/72157625398747373/) and have posted about him on my blog (http://bahaiviews.posterous.com/on-celebrating-the-life-of-bill-waters-he-too).
ReplyDeleteOur thoughts and prayers with be with assembled family and friends at the park in Vancouver on Monday.
Bill and I go way back to the 1960s, when I was a very young and insecure professor at the University of Wisconsin and he was a mature graduate student finishing up and ready for the world. Being an effete New Englander, trained at effete Stanford, I was not ready for this guy coming up from Kansas City by motorcycle with dark glasses and leather jacket. But the Marlon Brando image evaporated quickly as his sweetness and good humor quickly came clear. Since Bill left for a career in BC, while I lingered at the UW in Madison and then later at Harvard, we did not see each other often, but when we did it was like we had never been apart. The highlights of my BC visits were always the conversations we had when he’d take me on some terrific outdoor jaunt, times that stick in my memory even today. Although it must be said, that once he returned me for a university lecture what seemed only minutes before the start! Didn’t make him nervous at all.
ReplyDeleteRecently, I tried to get Bill interested in a collaborative transport history project. I think I was making progress, but – alas – I just didn’t start soon enough. Too bad, Bill, since we would have had a lot of fun together.
What a wonderful human being, who certainly raised the quality of my life.
Jeffrey G. Williamson
Laird Bell Professor of Economics, Emeritus, Harvard University
Honorary Fellow, Department of Economics, University of Wisconsin
Jo, I was surprised to receive your news. I'd already reserved accommodations for you both for the next Cousins' reunion for Sept, 2011. You were great hosts for the Vancouver Reunion. Bill was endlessly attentive and informative about the places we visited and beautiful area around Vancouver.
ReplyDeleteI have special memories of our 1994 Boundry Waters canoe adventure, the offshoot of your Mother's - what, 85th? - birthday party. After the family gathering and celebrating was over, Ben, Rootie and I, you and Bill headed for a week of Boundry Waters adventure. I'm sure you remember. You were well prepared with special treats around the campfire - hot chocolate and such. And we were a bit startled (me at least) to hear the howling of wolves at night. Remember at one portage where we left Rootie in charge of the packs while we moved canoes, only to go back and find her bug-eyed after a brief encounter with a bear? It really wasn't closer than some bushes, but that's close enough! Bill was great company! I hope you'll still plan to come next September. Hugs from Helen
Celebration of Bill Waters’ Life
ReplyDeleteIt was so shocking and sad to hear that Bill Waters passed away. When I saw Bill (and Joanne) at our Oplog Divisional Luncheon in Granville Island he looked vibrant and healthy, full of joy for his recent catch (the picture on this blog). Despite Bill’s heart condition, we thought he would go on forever.
Bill was my professor who taught me economics, later a close colleague, friend, and collaborator for numerous joint research papers. He was one of the warmest individuals I met. When I took his course fresh off the boat from Korea, my poor English hearing did not allow me to grasp many of the key economic concepts he was teaching in class. It became a habit for me to budge into his office late afternoons. Those who have visited Bill’s office in those days they know what I am talking about here. His desks were covered with two feet high rubbles of papers scattered all over. What amazed me was he always found right piece of paper that I need to read ! He appears to know where each piece of paper is ! One late Friday afternoon, he could not find what he was looking for from his two feet high piles of papers. Even a monkey can fall off a tree! Now, he started to draw a graph on a piece of paper in order to explain to me a fairly complex concept. He was so indulged into it. In that evening, he missed his favorite hockey play, and I missed my promise to take my wife to a dinner. Bill was very patient, friendly and helpful to me.
When we do joint project/paper together, he always charged ahead of me, and made me feel guilty at times. Largely thanks to him we were able to generate a joint paper which later became the best cited paper in the entire 30 year history of Journal of Transport Economics and Policy. He cares deeply for students and colleagues alike. I know many of my friends and colleagues respect him and his work.
Suddenly, he is not with us anymore. Our symphacy and condolences to Joanne, Wendy, Eric and their extended family.
We regret deeply that we are unable to attend the Reception planned for Celebtration of Bill's Life.
Tae Oum
from Tokyo (for Sooran and Tae)
No funny stories to share, just much affection and sadness. Though I wish I could have heard him tell that fish story -- that thing was enormous! Love to you, Wendy, Eric, and Jo. I'll be thinking of Bill and of you on Monday, wishing I could be there, and raising a glass. Hugs and prayers and best wishes,
ReplyDeleteJenn
There is continuity in the warm memories of Bill from high school to his university days through his many and varied activities while based in Vancouver. Wherever he has been, he has contributed to people’s lives through his care for others and through his enthusiasm for life. He has made so many friends and contributed to the lives of so many because of his enthusiasm for so many activities, particularly those associated with transport in any form and with outdoor life.
ReplyDeleteI had the pleasure to invite Bill to UBC ‘way back’ in 1969 and have benefited from his friendship ever since, as a colleague and a family friend. In all of his endeavours, Bill was always ready to help out and contribute more than was asked of him. Bill never lost these attributes. Though his heart condition may have slowed him down at times in the last decade, he was always looking to contribute actively; and he did. Bill’s opportunities to benefit others have been so well supported and enabled by Joanne. They have lived as a great team.
The fond memories of the Heaver family with the Waters family include the ten days doing the Bowron Lake canoe circuit in 1979, accompanied by a young Russian, Victor Tikanov; yes, the same name as the hockey coach. Nine of us were in three canoes. It was Bill’s role to make sure that all of our activities were respectful of the bears: we were taught to hang food packs at night from ropes strung high enough between well-separated trees and to have two people always with food packs as the canoes were portaged between the lakes. The four children ensured that the bears heard us! In the evenings there were a few opportunities for Bill to show us that if you can read the water, which he could, there are opportunities to go upstream and to play around in modest white water. (His encouragement for us to enjoy canoeing and white water activities continued beyond this trip.) Meanwhile, Joanne showed us how she kept Bill going in the wilds by using her reflector ‘oven’ to bake bread and other goodies.
Bill always enjoyed long trips in the outdoors: canoeing the Bowron Lakes, driving in the heart of Australia, driving beyond the Arctic Circle, travelling through the US south west. Then, his friends and colleagues got to learn about and enjoy his trips.
Bill will be really missed. But he leaves wonderful memories and the legacy of the values that he has taught and demonstrated to all. Bill lives on in the heart of his family and friends.
Trevor, Joan, Sandra and Peter Heaver
To Joanne, Wendy and Eric,
ReplyDeleteMany of us at Transport Canada knew Bill well in his professional capacity, and had the utmost admiration for his excellent work. He was truly one of the outstanding figures in the transportation field over many years.
Bill had a special place in our hearts because, as a respected academic, he championed the cause of sound and progressive transportation policies. His work on the Canadian Transportation Act Review Panel is just one example of the excellence he brought to anything he did. Over the years, many of us at Transport Canada looked forward to seeing Bill at the CTRF meetings, or at other transportation conferences where he could be counted upon to lend wisdom and insight to any discussion.
On behalf of my colleagues at Transport Canada, please allow me to offer our sincere sympathy to his family. Reading the tributes on this website, it is clear that Bill had a multi-faceted, wonderful life, and will be greatly missed.
Sincerely,
Kristine Burr
Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy
Transport Canada
We in our fuzzy thoughts remember an interesting adventure with Bill and Joanne about thirty years ago. The Waters' and Coulthard's had always been friends since Eric and Michael chummed together at Carnarvon Elementary School. One day Michael casually mentioned to us that the Waters had a new boat, lucky people. (another mode of travel for a transportation expert?).
ReplyDeleteOne weekend, soon after, we had been invited to sail with a friend from the Royal Van Yacht Club across the Strait of Georgia to our cabin on Whaler Bay, Galiano Island. Eleanor's parents had gone ahead with the children and we were adventuring over with Trevor, our dentist friend, in his 30 foot sailboat, "Artemis".
After many hours crossing, we arrived quite late and were just entering Whaler Bay about 11pm when the motor suddenly died and could not be restarted. It was dark and there were rocky shores all around. Rather worrisome, so John threw down the anchor.
This was in the days when there were no cellphones. Fortunately John was a Ham Radio operator and got out his hand held radio and managed to contact Eleanor's father at the cabin, who was also a Ham radio operator.
By some miracle guess who happened to be staying on their boat at the Government dock - the Waters, who had been visiting at the house! Bill found lights and stout lines and came out through the dark to save us. We were very happy to see him that night. He lashed our boat alongside his and brought us safely to the Government dock. We were sure happy to be home safe and sound.
Bill to the rescue!
Bob Smallman
ReplyDeleteBill was my brother-in-law. We first met for a "bachelor party" hastily organized by my brother Al and me. The party consisted of drinking a few beers with Bill on the backporch of my parents house in Chippewa Falls, WI. All I can say is that his love for my sister must have overcome the worst bachelor party in history! He had to have some misgivings about Jo's family!
We lived on the east coast, Bill and Jo lived on the west coast and we were busy with our jobs and families until a few years ago when we both became empty nesters. It was then, through "cousins reunions" (see Helen Wheeler blog) that we got to know Bill and appreciate him as a fine human being. We attended the magnificent wedding of son Eric to Jenny and got really acquainted with the entire Waters clan.
Bill loved life too much to leave us so soon! Our thoughts are with my Sister, Jo, and her two great kids, Eric and Wendy and their spouses and children
Received via e-mail:
ReplyDeleteBill's Family:
Here is my memory of Bill, which you can post on the virtual wake page if you want. Unfortunately, I will be in Philadelphia on the day of Bill's Celebration of Life and so won't be able to attend, but I hope that this will help me attend in spirit.
I was Chair of the Operations and Logistics Division from January 2000 until 2004, right after it was formed from a merger of the old Transport and Logistics Division, and Management Science Division. This was a tough position for me, since I came from a strong Mgt Sci background, and didn't know anything about TLog. Bill Waters was an invaluable resource for me, patiently explaining over many informal meetings, everything about the history of TLog, the personalities involved, the teaching needs, the research needs, CTS, and a million other things. During my whole time as Chair, and in the years since then, Bill continued to help me understand all these things, and what OpLog's priorities should be. I never would have been half as effective without being able to consult Bill. Even after his retirement, Bill continued to be a quiet and very positive influence on OpLog.
--
-Tom McCormick, WJ Van Dusen Professor of Management
Operations and Logistics Division, Sauder School of Business, UBC
Office: (604) 822-8426; Fax: (604) 822-9574
WWW: http://people.commerce.ubc.ca/faculty/mccormick
I remember Mr. Waters as a low-key, laid-back presence in the background whenever I went over to the Waters' house as a kid.
ReplyDeleteI have recollection of a time when Eric bought a vinyl 7" single, possibly for the first time. I think it was "Holiday Rap" by DJ Sven and MC Miker G. (I don't know why I remember these details. Sorry, if I am embarrassing you, Eric. I know your musical taste has developed since then.)
Anyhow, Eric put it on and we were listening to it in the basement and Mr. Waters came out of his office which was also down there. I thought he would be annoyed that we were playing this weird music while he was working, but instead he just started bopping his head to the funky beat! I think he even said something like, "Cool".
Well, that was only one example, but I always thought he was one of the coolest dads I had ever met because he was so easy-going and congenial. I thought he (and the Waters family) really epitomized the West Coast life by balancing the indoors and the outdoors so well.
My tribute to Bill Waters
ReplyDeleteAs one of the many honoured to be counted among Bill’s friends, I would like to offer condolences from my wife Alison and myself to Joanne and all the family. We were deeply shocked by Bill’s untimely death, and saddened that Bill won’t be able to enjoy more of all those thing he loved to do, now that he was finally tearing himself from his desk.
I knew of Bill’s work from the time I came to Canada and began working with Transport Canada in the mid-70’s, and picked his brains on many an occasion. Then it was my great privilege to work directly with Bill during the Canada Transportation Act Review.
After the Review, I continued to chat frequently with Bill, to work with him occasionally after I left Transport Canada in 2005, and to marvel still at how involved he was professionally. He continued particularly to pour out papers for CTRF, of which he was such a strong supporter, and for few weeks before he died was badgering me to join him in a paper for next year’s CTRF.
As I said, I’d known Bill and his work for many years prior to the CTA Review, usually from afar. But my first meeting with him in Canada was in fact purely social, doing the sort of thing that Bill loved to do, and in Ottawa. You might be aware that Bill was a close friend of Richard Lake, who was both a colleague and a near-neighbour of mine. Sometime early in the 1980s, Richard invited me cross-country skiing, and introduced me to Bill, who was staying with him. We talked a little about work, but mostly just enjoyed a great day in the woods.
I say that was my first meeting in Canada, and I thought it was the first time I’d met Bill. But while we were working on the Review, Bill happened to mention that he’d visited the UK Transport Department in London in the early 1970s, to discuss cost-benefit analysis methods.
He said he’d been particularly impressed that they took him out to a pub afterwards, and one of the young analysts bought him his first-ever pint of Guinness. I hadn’t remembered that the visitor was Bill, but I did remember the seminar we had with him, and I distinctly remembered buying him his first pint of Guinness.
So I’m proud to say I contributed something to Bill’s development as the amazing all-round man he was.
John Lawson
Ex-Director, Economic Analysis & research, Transport Canada, and Co-Director of Research, Canada Transportation Act Review, 1999-2000
Bill will be missed by many people in Australia, and my sincere condolences to Joanne and family.
ReplyDeleteOver the years, I have very much appreciated how Bill and his family
have made my family welcome when we were visiting Vancouver. In turn, it was a real pleasure to see Bill and Joanne on their several visits to Australia.
Bill's contributions to, UBC, transport and the CTRF were extensive. This includes not only his books and other publications, but also his encouragement to other researchers.Including myself, and I remain grateful for his generosity in this regard.
His keynote address in 2006 to the Australasian Transport Research Forumin the Gold Coast. Further contributions, along with those to many students, were his editing of the Proceedings of the 2001 CTRF held at Vancouver and as a panel member of the 2009 CTRF at Victoria.
In short, he was an amazing man.
Philip Laird
University of Wollongong Australia
Bill and I were in a group of people who were the core of the University of Wisconsin Hoofers Outing Club from 1964 to 1969. In 1964 the club had a history of whitewater boating in aluminum canoes. The first fiberglass kayaks came to the club in the fall of 1964, and soon the club had some molds and was learning to make fiberglass enclosed canoes (called "banana boats") and kayaks. In the years when I was there we also learned skills like eskimo rolling kayaks and began to take on more difficult whitewater than was possible in open canoes. I remember paddling a canoe with Bill in slalom races and in some especially challenging rapids. In fact, Bill and I were on the cover of the national whitewater magazine. For all of us who participated, it was a special time with a camaraderie among friends that we continue to keep in touch with. We had a Hoofers reunion last summer that Bill was unable to attend because his pacemaker would not be covered outside of Canada. Alden Wright
ReplyDeleteBill: some memories …
ReplyDeleteTo Joanne, Wendy, Eric and families from Alan and Narelle Woodland
We’re so sad to hear about Bill and we’re thinking of you all at this time. Unfortunately we’re not able to be with you the Celebration of Bill’s life: we wish we could be and we shall certainly be thinking of you.
Jo, you and Bill were amongst the first people we met when we moved to Vancouver in 1969. Since then we have really enjoyed your friendship. We loved your sense of originality: turkey buzzard parties; roast cougar dinners; collections of frogs (we especially remember Junior Frog); garage sale ads (that went something like: “we bought your junk, now come and buy ours”). You did things the rest of us merely dreamed of: wilderness adventures, dog sled rides, fishing … Others may have exaggerated stories of these – but we knew you didn’t – we even believed the size of the fish!
After we moved back to Sydney we still enjoyed seeing you on your occasional visits to Australia and on ours to Vancouver. It was also lovely to keep in touch via your Christmas letters and thus to hear about the marriages of Wendy and Eric, arrival of grandchildren, many travel adventures and so on.
In “Aussie lingo” Bill was a “great bloke”. He was a good friend to us and was always good fun. He was very much his own person, and also a great family man, who adored you all. He had an amazing capacity to enjoy his life and we think he did so more than anyone we’ve ever known. He managed to have a wonderful balance, which few of us achieve, between family, work and leisure.
You will miss him enormously and we shall too.
We send our love to you all.
Bill was my Prof for water transportation in 1980 or thereabouts. I always thought it was fitting that he taught that course given his last name. Later her admitted to only standing in for Trevor at the time and his main interests were elsewhere. In 1982, when I was contemplating my job prospects for after graduation, I mentioned to him that I was considering looking for a job in shipping in London, England. He thought it was a good idea and I thought no more of his comment until about two months later when I received two letters out of the blue inviting me for interviews with CP Ships and Shell Tankers.
ReplyDeleteThe letter from CP referred to a letter from Bill. It transpired that after our talk Bill wrote to the managing directors at both companies who he knew. He didn't tell me until I came to him enquiring about the letters. He dismissed his efforts as being nothing but his action inspired me to seriously pursue the idea of going to London which I did. 29 years later I'm still in the shipping industry having spent 18 years in London, Bergen and Hamburg but am now back in Vancouver. I am pleased with my career and am thankful to Bill for giving me the push forward.
Best wishes to Bill's family.
Tony Pearkes
Oldendorff Carriers
Vancouver.
Dear Joanne, Wendy, Eric & Families –
ReplyDeleteHow gratifying it is to know that Bill had such a full and rewarding life. We treasure the memories of having participated in some of his interests, of tapping his seemingly endless knowledge; of his unfailing helpfulness; of his rock solid common sense and his unswerving good humour. Bill was a master at many things; but he also had some failings. He seemed to be unable to hang on to small watercraft. He told us the story about how his kayak was stolen despite the unforgettably wild tiger stripes with which he had decorated it in order to prevent just that from happening. More recently he had us store at Alta Lake his very classic canoe, one he had made as a wedding present for Joanne over 40 years earlier. The idea was to have it readily accessible to water, which the almost pristine canoe had apparently not touched in years. After a couple of successful years of storage, locked up on a rack by the lake, we sadly discovered one sunny day in the fall of 2009 that it too was stolen.
He loved nature and we had fun camping & paddling with the Vancouver Kayak Club as our young ones came along including practices, races and pool sessions. Bill was very practical renovating his upstairs rooms in Kitsilano to 2 separate rooms. Our kids went to the same High school and our friendship continued with lovely walks along the railway tracks in West Vancouver. The last couple of years we camped in the Chilliwack Valley and Bill enjoyed a couple of hours slight uphill hike through rain forest to wonderful little fishing lakes. He relished in taking us for a boat ride up the lake and a bumpy drive to the headwaters for a swamp walk.
He was a very gentle, peaceful and purposeful presence. We miss him very much. Please know our sympathy and love is with you at this sad time.
Uta, Heiko, Randal and family, and Chandra Vaneijnsbergen
I picked my way through the stalagmites of paper in Bill's "Henry Angus" office, trying to reach a chair without incident. It was April 1974. As I sat down, I noticed that the the handwriting on the top paper of a nearby pile looked strangely familiar. Upon further inspection, it turned out to be a one-page overnight assignment, from a course I had taken from Bill in the Fall of 1972 -- 1.5 years earlier. The one-pager had miraculously risen to the top of one of the piles, like a magician's card trick. Putting the paper in my briefcase, I began to good-naturedly admonish him, saying "Bill, why don't you throw this stuff out?" He replied "Well, you never know when someone is going to come by for it," smiling his trademark wry smile, while the light slowly dawned for me that I had just proved his point.
ReplyDeleteI came to know Bill and his young family well over the next few years, sleeping on their living room floor in Oxford, occasionally baby-sitting the kids, being one of his partners in a "cabin" on Hollyburn, and even later having Eric baby-sit my cat. I've never met a kinder, gentler man, or a finer family. He also helped me in several important ways during my early academic and consulting career, for which I will always be grateful.
It's sometimes said that you judge a man by the friendships he makes. By that yardstick, no-one that I've ever know outranks Bill Waters. My life is richer because of Bill, and I will treasure his memory.
It has been 32 years since I last took a course from Bill at UBC, yet it seems like yesterday. My first recollection of Bill was of this rather eccentric looking guy that showed up in class with a rather flashy looking tie and started to engage us in the world of transportation economics. I was hooked. His folksy way of delivering lectures and engaging students was very effective. Nobody would remember Bill as just another prof.
ReplyDeleteIn my final year at UBC I had the privilege of working for Bill and Karl Ruppenthal (another name from the past) on two very interesting projects - the BC Rail Royal Commission and a survey of the users of the BC Ferry system. Several interesting stories came out of this work but I will share only one.
As a result of my work on the Royal Commission, Bill suggested that I focus my graduating paper on some aspect of what I had learned. I chose to examine the long term feasibility of the Fort Nelson Extension of BC Rail. The paper was completed and given to Bill for review. He suggested that it be submitted to the Royal Commission for their consideration as well.
When this happened, it caught the eye of one of the reporters for CBC Radio, who phoned me and asked if I would be willing to do an interview about the findings. I said sure and subsequently phoned Bill to see what he thought. He said it would be a great learning experience.
The next morning I did the interview, which turned out to be live. The reporter also had the Mayor of Fort Nelson on the line who had taken exception to the findings of my report. Can you spell "set-up".
Following this fiasco I phoned Bill and complained about what had transpired. His reply, "did you learn anything from this?". When I replied in the affirmative, he pointed out that not all lessons can be learned in the classroom. Bright guy.
One last comment about Bill's office. As several people have already commented, it was rather full of paper. I was always intrigued about about the contents of a box that stood on top of about four feet of other files. The label on the box read something like "In case of fire, save this first, Jo second." When I ultimately asked Bill what this was it turned out it was the box that he had kept his thesis and supporting materials in.
I have been fortunate to have Bill as a professor, colleague and friend over the past 30 years and will miss him.
I had the pleasure of having Bill as a colleague at UBC for over 30 years. He was one of a kind! His famous neckties, his wry sense of humour, his insightful observations about the University and the incredible variety of avocations he enjoyed. My wife, Mary, and I will never forget the great parties that he and Jo had to celebrate the return of the turkey buzzards to Hinkley, Ohio. Did they really come back? Who cared. We had a great time, including guessing the "mystery meat," game that Bill had hunted or obtained in BC's great outdoors.
ReplyDeleteHe and Jo were such a model of a happy couple, always cheerful and welcoming.
We shall all miss Bill, and we share in our own small way the sense of loss that Jo, Erik and Wendy feel.
Best wishes, Mark and Mary Thompson
Though I had only known Bill for about 10 years, it felt I had known him my whole life. He was a very smart and attentive man. I will miss those family gatherings at Mary Ann's where we would share our lives and stories and more importantly I would pick the brains of all the Waters cousins. He was always so generous and helpful when it came to assisting in my genealogy hunt. I still have the enormous package of information he sent me that his father had collected over the years. It will be odd to think I will never see him at Mary Ann's again. Bill will forever live in our memories and all the happy times we each spent with him and every life he ever touched. Joanne, Wendy, Eric, our thoughts are with you in these times. Rest in peace Bill. A truly remarkable Waters cousin.
ReplyDeleteWith love,
Randy, Jolene, Mike, Pam and Christina
RAINMAN
ReplyDeleteWith the name of Waters we can appreciate Bill’s love lakes and streams. Also he could bring forth rain wherever he went. For over 40 years camping with Bill seemed to mean camping in the rain. His normal camping clothes included gumboots, rain pants and a rubberized jacket. Bill was always prepared for rain which was quite reasonable. We camped in some epic downpours, our last being on Texada Island in 2008 when we suffered in tents through very heavy rain and wind with the temperature right at freezing. Our last two years hunting on Texada were in a rented oceanfront house where we could enjoy the fireplace while it rained outside.
After many years of ragging Bill about causing rain wherever he went he became sensitive to these comments and a bit defensive about causing the rain. He felt that he had finally beat his jinx a few years ago when we were camping and fishing at Schoen Lake on northern Vancouver Island. It was sunny until we went fishing. Bill was in his dingy and Sandy and I were in our boat fishing the small mountain lake. For an entire day Sandy and I enjoyed sunshine while we watched Bill fishing a kilometer or so away in the rain with a dark cloud floating over his head. When he moved, his cloud moved with him, and when we moved the sun followed. Bill returned late in the afternoon quite soaked while we remained dry. The fish Gods also favoured us that day and frowned upon Bill.
Bill had a special relationship with the rain Gods despite what he might have thought. Even his license plates contained H2O.
Bill Swanson
USED CLOTHES SANTA CLAUS
ReplyDeleteWhile we lived, on a very limited income, on the land in Sayward, Bill always tried to take time to come up for fishing in the summer and hunting in November. Both of us looked forward to these trips and we always had a good time talking and enjoying being out on the water or in the woods. In the summer we always caught fish and usually one of us would get a deer or two in the fall, but shooting deer or grouse was just a bonus. We enjoyed each others’ company.
When our daughter, Griffin, was born Bill brought up lots of gifts for her. Most of the surprises came from Bill and Jo’s love of garage sales and finding bargains. I especially remember an advent calendar that Jo put considerable thought into. When Griffin was old enough to appreciate the substantial contribution of clothing each fall she looked forward to the visit of the “Used Clothes Santa Claus”. This is one more example of Jo and Bill’s thoughtfulness.
Bill Swanson
From Ryan Lee.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I would like to say sorry to here this sad news.
I spent my summer in 2009 at CTS for Airport Benchmarking Report and Professor Waters and I shared a desk.
I still remember his smile, and I do remember his strong will to learn how to build a personal homepage for himself and his wife's handcrafts. Although I did not spend much time like Lorra, this sad news comes to a big wave in my mind.
It is a big loss of UBC, industry, and academia.
I will remember him.
Ryan from Korea
I'm sorry to hear of Bill's passing one year late.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed my transport econ elective with Bill back in 2000. It was by chance that I found his course in the ubc calendar. It turned out to be a hidden gem because his course ended up to be the most relevant and eye-opening course in my schedule.
1 class and 10 years later, I still remember him walking into class in his tennis shoes, his enthusiasm when lecturing and my enthusiasm listening to all of the information.
Thanks Professor Waters. I'm glad I took your course.
T. Bangayan
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