Remembering Bill Sheasgreen

...Titles don’t adequately capture who Bill is and what he has meant to all of us who know him and work with him, whether as students, faculty, staff, or alumni. ... Bill is known for his willingness to help others, and his requirement that we walk, walk, walk (!) our way through history and towards a better understanding of the cultural richness and diversity to be found beyond the boundaries of South Kensington. He is an exemplar of the bridge between academic and student affairs; a scholar who is adept in engaging with students both in and out of the classroom. 

... During his time at the Center, Bill … developed and led history walks across England, Ireland, and Wales; introduced us to the mysteries of cricket, ceilidh dancing, and haggis; helped us to understand British humor, and revealed the relevance of history to our circumstances in the present day. ... We have been extraordinarily fortunate [to have had Bill lead the ICLC for so many years] and thank Bill for all he did in support of the Ithaca College London Center. He will be missed.”

“[Bill] taught with conviction, with humor, and from a humanistic, multi-cultural perspective. He liked young people, he understood their struggles and their potential, and he never tired giving his best to them. I knew from the start that he was a treasure. ... The students and their personal as well as intellectual growth motivated all his actions. It was always about the students with Bill, whether in the classroom, at a Hyde Park soccer game, during a visit to the Roman Baths, or at the theatre. He quietly and persistently challenged, nurtured, and cajoled. He opened their eyes to new worlds and experiences, and he did it with gentle prodding, with humor and self-deprecation. He was never ‘a pain in the neck.’ How many people can you say that about? Instead, our ‘man in London’ is and remains a gentleman, an intellectual agent provocateur with kid gloves, a hard-working, tireless director without grand-standing, a man without vanity, in short, a great man.”

“What I remember most about Bill is his incredible grace. He is a true gentleman whose kindness, reassurance, leadership, and passion for his work I will never forget.”

“Bill, thank you for everything. You made not just mine, but everyone at the ICLC’s lives better. You are kind, compassionate, and were always willing to talk about anything. ...Your tours throughout London and Scotland are and always will be legendary. ... You made my semester abroad one that I will cherish. ... know that you have touched so many lives forever.”

“I had the pleasure of spending the fall 2006 semester at the London Center … and this period turned out to be one of the most memorable experiences of my 17 years on the IC faculty. I have no doubt that Bill Sheasgreen is the reason I feel this way. His amazing knowledge of London goes without saying … but it was his calm demeanor and wonderful sense of humor that made our stay there truly a joy.”

“Bill was, without a doubt, a huge part of what made my semester abroad amazing. His fun-loving sprit, passion and knowledge about…well, everything, made every adventure that much more enjoyable. He helped us all appreciate and feel comfortable in our home away from home and for that I will always be grateful! Thank you, Bill!”

“Our first London walk. It was night, we were all still getting over our jet lag and excitement at being in a country most of us had only read about. I can’t even remember exactly where we went, but I do remember the laughter, the hushed sense of mystery as we gallivanted through alleyways, and up streets. I remember the feelings of admiration and wonder as Bill unfolded the history of buildings, bridges, and bricks. I remember feeling completely safe and happy as he led us Pied Piper style through the dusky streets. All of our future walks were equally as wonderful, but that first one was magical.”

“Whether it was footie or cricket in Hyde Park, trekking through the unfinished Olympic grounds, or a lecture about QPR making a push to miss relegation, every trip was an adventure and every talk was a wealth of knowledge. Bill’s impact on the center will surely be missed.”

(Gregory Siegel, Kevin Crockett, Nik DeCosta, Josh Berggrun, Andrew Hicks, Adam Richichi, Steve Borrebach)

“I taught in the London program during Fall 2002. We arrived in London just days before the arrival of 55 students. I think it took me more than a week to learn my students’ names. By that time Bill knew the names of all 55 students, where they were living, who their housemates were, and who was having what kind of difficult adjusting to their new environs. Bill was known to students for his generous spirit, his intelligent engagement with everything London, his lengthy walking tours, the trips he led to all over Britain, and his introducing them to cricket and Hobnobs.”

“Bill, it’s been more than three years since I returned from London but I still treasure my time there and always will. It changed how I think about so many different things and you did more than anybody else to make it such a magical experience. Thanks for making sure I found flatmates when I was on the edge of tears because I didn’t have a group; thanks for keeping your promise to find me an internship when the first one fell apart; thanks for taking me to all those matches even when I was the only other person who came; thanks for turning me into an Arsenal fan and giving me that scarf (which I still wear every time Arsenal has an away game), and most of all, thanks for always being willing to listen when I needed someone to talk to. I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who didn’t like you and if I did, I wouldn’t trust them because you’re just such a nice person. So thanks one last time for everything.”

“Bill and his most gracious wife Lynne are so deserving of gratitude for their many kindnesses and their active plan to make the world a better place one London walk at a time. I feel a poignant pain when I think of the many walks I enjoyed with this grand man. I miss them, I’m humbled when I recall how many relationships I saw Bill Facilitate through these activities – and then I realize that I saw the tiniest slice of his work. ... How many people have gained a deeper understanding of cricket and of human relationships because of his countless Sunday afternoon matches and his warm responses? Bill’s pride in his work and his daily service to all his associates have been evident through these years, and they are felt across the world through all the lives he has touched.”

“Bill Sheasgreen was the person who made London feel like home. He has an uncanny way for making a place like London seem so foreign and exciting, while also making you feel safe and right at home. At no point did I ever feel like being London Center director was his job, but his real love and calling. Going on every one of Bill’s walks made my semester what it was, brilliant!”

“London is an amazing city, and the Ithaca College London Center is an amazing place, run by amazing people. I can think of no one better suited to run the program than Bill Sheasgreen, and it is hard to imagine the program without him. Our students have been so lucky to be in his hands, and it would be impossible to overstate the meaningful impact he has had on so many from the Ithaca College community.”

“Thanks for guiding me toward having the most powerful and life-changing experiences and memories! My life truly would not be the same without the work you do and the program you ran. Ithaca College was lucky to have you. You will be INCREDIBLY missed!”