Doll, William E., Jr. (Bill)
Dear Colleagues,
I write with very sad news: our valued colleague and friend, Bill Doll, has passed away. I send Donna (Trueit), in the name of IAACS (and in my personal name), our solidarity and love.
In a piece in honor of his mentor, in 2009, Bill Doll wrote: “with his passing went part of my soul. (…) He was a teacher who helped me shape my views not only in education, but also on life”. Those of us who had the privilege of knowing Bill Doll as well as those who never had the honor of meeting him in person — all in the worldwide curriculum studies field recognize the many ways in which Bill served as mentor. His crucial contributions to the field include his distinctive voice and infectious laughter, his influential books and essays, and his support of and constant participation in myriad curriculum studies conferences and journals.
As a Brazilian, I first met Bill Doll via his book, A Post-Modern Perspective on Curriculum, published in 1997 and received in my country with standing ovations. Eventually meeting him in person through the IAACS conferences as well as at other professional gatherings, I felt honored to be able to sit with him to talk about curriculum studies (and much more).
As the IAACS President, in this sorrowful moment, I would like to re-affirm Bill’s importance to our Association in which he participated from its first moments of existence. His leadership, with others, was decisive to IAACS’s creation as well as to its growth throughout the years. Next year’s triennial conference in Australia will be the first one where we will not be able to hear his very distinctive and infectious laugh through the corridors. It will be the first time that we, as well as the ones first coming to the field, will not be able to hear his words of support and his provoking comments on our papers. Bill was a person who was always present, at all levels of meaning, welcoming every single colleague as a long-term friend. We will miss you deeply, Bill. I almost can hear your laugh as you now say: “I will be there with you all, inside your work and your commitments to our wonderful field.”
Thank You, Bill Doll, for so generously sharing your intellect as well as your joy for life with us.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Macedo
President- IAACS