Teacher, Coach, Pack Guide, Friend! The Class of '64 shares these fond memories of Bill Wyman:
Thank you for passing on the sad
news of Bill Wyman's death. I remember
ski trips and back packing with him, as well as our first year English
class. We also saw each other at
Stanford.
Do any of you, besides Kemper,
remember the day in English class that Kemper took an eraser for me? Eventually I had to write some sort of
punishment paper in lieu of Kemper for whatever his crime may have been. My crime was turning to ask a question of Tom
Love, and having Wyman see me talking in class.
But I saw Wyman cock back that eraser throwing arm and dove for the
floor. He corrected down but neglected
to note that Kemper, sitting in front of me, was in the way.
On a Mineral King back-pack trip,
Sam Felix and Kemper Shaw were complaining about being kept awake all night by
bears raiding the nearby garbage cans, and were astounded that I had slept
through the incident. I, of course, was
upset that I did not get to see the bears.
I am certain that others remember
great incidents in our time with Bill Wyman.
He really was a tremendous fellow.
I am sorry for our loss.
I do hope to see you all this
Fall.
Bill Kendall
I was sad to hear of Bill Wyman's
passing. His Freshman English class was one of my favorites--fun as well as
instructive. Reading Julius Caesar and
Cyrano in his class are among my best memories from Menlo. I have fond memories
of his joking and throwing erasers, besides which he was always friendly and
supportive.
Randall
Bill introduced me to back
packing in the high Sierras - an experience that led me on to many more outdoor
adventures. As a coach and a teacher he
was among the best. I hope he realized
how much he helped people along their way. We were very lucky to have crossed paths with
him.
All the best
Kemper
I'm so sorry to receive this
news! Bill Wyman was certainly one of my
favorite Menlo instructors - along with Bob Jones. Several of us enjoyed a telephone
conversation with Bill during our 2009/45th Reunion. We'd invited him to join us, but he was on a
book-signing tour, and couldn't make it.
I was planning on contacting him about joining our 50th Reunion.
If you're in touch with his
family, please extend my most sincere condolences - and let them know how
important he was to my Menlo experience.
Bill J.
I am so sad to hear that Mr.
Wyman is gone.
He was one of my best memories at
Menlo.
I always looked forward to
English class, football practice and the pack trips in the Sierras.
Remember the push-ups when we came to class late?
‘Passing another milestone on our
journey home.
Cheers, Sam
Wow, Bill -- I thought he was
always in such good shape that he would never pass away (despite the
cigarettes). I have many fond memories
of interactions with him at Menlo and later at Stanford. As you say, may he rest in peace!
Guil
Sorry to hear this. For the record,
every time I am in a meeting or conference and the speaker reaches for an
eraser to clean the board he is using, I *still* flinch.
~whp
Wyman's Freshman English Class,
Let the record show that both Kemper & I were totally innocent of any wrong doing, at least on that occasion! And, I believe that Kendall was soon moved by Mr. Wyman to the front row while both Kemper and I were moved to the back to minimize the risk of future incoming eraser attacks by Coach Wyman. Or maybe I'm thinking of Tim Hovey or Jim Jordan who also received punichment from Wyman. Kinda fond memories, huh, g guys?
Tom Love
I remember coach Wyman from football only, but I recall him as easy to like and hard to be coached by, a good man.
Keoki
Wyman was a Classic. We started when he did and he cut his teeth on the Class of '64.
The Ski Trip he took us on was a total blast and became a lasting memory of the Menlo Years.
Wyman, Jones, Salisbury - we were so fortunate, looking back on it all now, how we even survived keeping up with them (Wyman especially, the rascal!). It's a wonder we're still alive.
What a guy he was!
R.T.P. Bill
Michael Kenner
May Bill Wyman rest in peace
