Stanley Williams

The following is a personal reflection on his father's life by Steven... Stan was born on June 2, 1934. Dad was a private man, so there wasn't much revealed about his youth. I believe he grew up on the south side of Chicago, near 103d and Cottage Grove, with his mother and his younger brother David. Dad was an active kid. He always used to marvel at how the sport and recreation aspects of his grandchildren's lives were so planned and regimented. He'd say that when he was a kid, he'd be out of the house from after breakfast to dinner just playing pickup games in the yards and running around with his friends. Dad hung around with an older crowd as he was allowed to skip ahead in school two years above his age group. Dad started work early. I know he spent time caddying at Olympia Fields golf course. Just last week we were discussing how my son may work this summer in a textbook warehouse. Dad told me he did the same work, when he was 14. I know later he worked in the steel mills on the south side of Chicago. Dad Graduated high school and went on to college at DePauw University. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta. He graduated with honors in 1955. It was at DePauw that Dad met Mom. Mom was 1 year behind Dad. After college Dad went into the Air Force. He entered a second Lieutenant and left two years later a Captain. I know he was stationed in Texas for a period and also in the Florida Panhandle. He used to tell stories of living with Mom in Florida in the lodgings provided for married officers. He said it was nice during the day, being near the beach, but if you had to get out of bed at night, you had to wear shoes because every step would crush a cockroach. Dad went to the University of Michigan Law School and again graduated with honors. Through that time he fell in love with that school and has continued to love and support the University of Michigan ever since, which can be a bit of a risk living in Cleveland Ohio. Even through this last season he loved to go to Michigan football games. I think he was quite pleased that his oldest grandson is currently a student there. In fact, they would meet at the games, carrying on a fairly long tradition of taking his grandchildren to at least one home game per season. There were a few times that Mom and Dad traveled to see Michigan play in bowl games. Dad worked hard, but smart. He always had time to coach or attend my baseball or soccer games as I was growing up. Dad never missed any of Shari's swim meets either in high school or College, despite the need to travel two hours to Bowling Green, near Toledo. He was not one of those lawyers that can be too wrapped up in their work for other activities and interests. I'd say Mom and Dad's favorite interest was travel. We used to tease Dad that if he ever decided to retire from practicing law, he'd make a fantastic travel agent or guide. The two of them have been all over the US, South America, Europe, Africa, and Australia. There was a period of time 5-10 years ago where it seemed they were traveling somewhere every month. I believe they even went to Spain for a visit on New Years based upon the throw of a dart. Travel with the family was a big thing for Dad. About 5 years ago, as all the grandchildren got to a suitable age for travel, Dad began to organize a trip each year for the ten of us together. We started in 2007 with a trip to Yellowstone. In 2008 we stayed closer to home and had a great time in Galena. In 2009 it was time to hit the road again, this time to San Francisco. We were joined for a portion of that time by our cousins, John and Janet Stedman. In 2010 we stayed nearby, but had a really fantastic trip to Door County, Wisconsin. In 2011 we all spent the week between Christmas and New Year's Eve in Puerto Rico. Dad used to plan his travel down to the finest detail when we would travel as children. As he got older and began to plan these 10 person junkets, he really loosened up and we were all able to do a variety of things that made the trips so special. In addition to travel, Dad loved to play golf. He and Mom would frequently be found at Shaker Heights Country Club playing together as a pair or with friends. Dad also loved to play various card games. He and Mom were in a bridge club that met for years and helped create many long friendships. Even with his children and grandchildren he would love to get a game of "oh hell" going. This was where his competitive nature sometimes came out. If not there, then certainly during games of "gin rummy". Dad's first job after graduating from law school was with Arter and Hadden in Cleveland. Dad was a rare attorney in that almost his entire career was with that one firm. Dad practiced in the area of commercial real estate development. He was the managing partner for a period of time when the firm had expanded to at least four offices in various parts of the country. When he turned 70 he left that firm under the terms of the partnership agreement. He quickly found himself working with a former client. He was able to work for Bellweather for several years. He always enjoyed being the elder statesman. He would take the younger attorneys out for a beer at one of his favorite places, Great Lakes Brewing Co. for laughs. The bottom line is that Dad really knew that the secret to a good life was in the relationships he had with so many people. He was so loving and supportive of his family. We will miss him greatly.


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