Amy, doing what she loved most: supporting her students and colleagues
As you all know, we lost our dear colleague, Amy Williamsen, far too soon.
Dr. Don Dietz asked us to post the below message in memoriam to Amy as a part of this conference. The AHCT was planning an in-person memorial for Amy and the release of the two-volume homenaje in her honor, but this had to be postponed due to the unfortunate circumstances in which we find ourselves. We hope that we can be together in person soon, and we know that the memory of Amy will live on for many years to come.
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There will be a forum open in the portal for those who wish to share their own memories of Amy.
In Memoriam
Our community of scholars was shocked at the sudden and unexpected death of Amy Williamson. We all admired and loved her.
I knew Amy, when she was a little girl. Our two families first met, when Vern and I were graduate students at the University of Arizona in the early 1960s. My wife, Kathy, was carrying our first- born son, Joe, and Clara was pregnant with Amy’s sister, Tura. Through our friendship with Vern and Clara, I was able to follow Amy’s successful academic career. Early on, as a graduate student, Amy came to our AHCT conferences; not long afterwards, she was elected to the Board of Directors and quickly became one of the pillars of our Association.
The last time I saw and spoke to Amy was at our AHCT conference in El Paso, Texas, two years ago. We met one morning, after breakfast, in the hotel lobby. She congratulated me for the homenaje volume, that you, my AHCT colleagues, had graciously presented to me during the conference. Our conversation quickly turned to past memories of our families. With tears in her eyes, Amy began speaking about Vern. She loved and respected her dad and revered him. She thanked me for my deep friendship with her Dad and for my having founded AHCT, which meant so much to her professional career. As we parted, we embraced each other. Little did I know it would be the last time I would hug Amy.
As I reflect upon Amy's brief life, I recall the message that President Barack Obama, shortly after his first inauguration, gave to the graduating class at Arizona State University. The University had denied him an honorary degree for political reasons, stating that “he had not yet completed his body of work.” The President, respectfully acknowledging the University’s rationale, reminded the graduates that they have just begun their “body of work,” and added that “one’s body of work is never complete until his or her life has ended.”
Amy has completed the last chapter of her life. Her body of work remains with us and continues to enrich us all.
Requiescat in pace.
Donald Dietz
July 8, 2020