 Fall 2005 |
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| Roberta Williams -- 1942-2005
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On June 6, 2005, ABLE members learned the sad news of the death (on May 18) of a dear friend and colleague, Roberta Williams. Roberta was a long standing member of ABLE and a three-time host at University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Roberta retired a year after hosting her third ABLE conference at UNLV, June 3-7, 2003. Most fitting for her remembrance are some words from her husband and her ABLE colleagues. * * * When I married Roberta in 1964, I had a pretty good idea that I had something special, not only in a wife and companion, but also in a close and loving family that now became mine. I knew that I wanted someone who was pretty, intelligent, active, and success oriented. From her father, Walter Brytczuk, Roberta had learned a love of the sciences and humility in the approach to life. From her mother, Jean, she had learned the skills to make those around her comfortable and had inherited an activity level and a generosity with her time for which I have not seen a match in my lifetime. Never driven by a need to accumulate wealth or things, Roberta led a modest life. In the process, she taught me that recognizing and attending to the needs of others was hollow, if you waited until your own needs had been satisfied. I was a person of words; she was a person of deeds. I should have known what I had when, a month and a half into our marriage, she was forced to address our first crisis. I was dropped from dental school in the senior year. Whatever dreams she might have had of being a dentist’s wife were dashed. She held me, then looking straight into me eyes she said, “You really didn’t want to be a dentist that much anyway. What would you like to do with your life?” She nursed me through that failure, supported my future graduate school education and then uprooted herself from family and friends to follow me around the country in a travel trailer as I conducted research on lakes across the nation for the U.S.EPA. After a couple of weeks of waiting for me to return in the helicopter each day, she convinced the field program coordinator that they needed another chemist in the field to process the samples. ‘Better busy than bored’ was a motto she lived throughout her life. Our son, Colby, was born in the middle of the second field season, so we returned to our new condo in Las Vegas. A devoted mother, she still found time to start a second career. Not being a hobby person, and having little patience with recreational reading or television, she devoted her energies to teaching others, first in the community college and then as an Instructor and later a Professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She dedicated her extraordinary energies to addressing scientific illiteracy and unmet student advising needs. Her many awards were a testament to her success as a teacher and advisor, but I had the benefit of seeing the effort behind the scenes. Yes, she was proud to show me the stack of unprecedented student evaluations of her courses, but then she immediately turned the forms over looking for any critical comments that would help her to further improve and evolve each course. We also shared the joy of seeing our Colby find his soul mate, Phyllis, and of watching them begin their dreams together as man and wife. We were fortunate to see many beautiful areas of this country, to explore the Galapagos Islands, Costa Rica, Mexico and Canada, and even trek the jungles of Borneo while staying in the longhouses of native tribes. We shared our wonder at the diversity of life and the fragile nature of our ecosystems. I have had the enormous pleasure and satisfaction of being a tail to Roberta’s kite, providing a little stability and support as she carried me high into the skies. Roberta, my love, thank you for the wonderful ride! Llewlyn R. Williams, Ph.D. * * * I write to say how deeply sorry I am to learn of Roberta William's unexpectedly sudden death. Roberta was a teacher and not only in the traditional definition but, more importantly, in its broadest sense as she taught us all the love of humanity and enthusiasm for what the world offers us in our very brief time here. Her generosity had no bounds. I met Roberta in Newfoundland at her first ABLE conference in 1984 at which she immediately agreed to host the organization for 1985 at UNLV. Who else would dare such a feat? At that first UNLV conference (campus housing wasn't available in 1985)
we stayed in a hotel. Roberta and I continued our friendship for 21 years. Though often catching up only at ABLE meetings, those moments were precious and energized me for the following year. Albert Einstein said, "Strange is our situation here on earth. Each of us comes for a short visit not knowing why, yet sometimes seeming to divine a purpose. From the standpoint of daily life, however, there is one thing we do know: that we are here for the sake of each other, above all, for those upon whose smile and well-being our own happiness depends, and also for the countless unknown souls with whose fate we connect with a bond of sympathy. Many times a day I realize how much my own outer and inner life is built upon the labors of others, both living and dead, and how earnestly I must exert myself in order to give in return as much as I have recieved and am receiving." Roberta was a woman whose spirit I received in abundance. I miss her. Elizabeth Godrick * * * Roberta was a gracious host for many ABLE members....even if they didn't know the warmth of her smile and the pleasure of her laugh. She did much for us all personally and for the organization. Maggie Haag * * * Carol Budd, ABLE President 2003-2005, has announced that ABLE will present Roberta's husband, Llew, with a framed botanical picture with a collective memorial calligraphied on the back. In addition, ABLE's teaching grants were renamed at this year's meeting as the Roberta Williams Laboratory Teaching Initiative Grants. Our deepest sorrow for Llew and Roberta's family in this time of grief.
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