William Randolph Mueller ’39

Bill died on Mar. 29, 2000, in Roland Park, Md. Born in Baltimore, Bill came to Princeton from the Gilman School, then went on to earn a doctorate in literature at Harvard and a master's in theology at Union Theological Seminary. During WWII, he joined the navy and taught English at the Naval Academy before he was sent to Seattle as a gunnery instructor. After teaching at Williams, UC Santa Barbara, and the U. of North Carolina, he joined the Goucher College faculty in 1960, where he was twice chair of the English department. In 1972, he struck out on his own and founded the Humanities Institute, a continuing education program initially tailored to women who had finished raising their families. His courses flourished for 15 years in Baltimore, and, now under new management, are offered as literary seminars in England, Scotland, Ireland, and Italy. With his divinity degree as a Congregationalist minister he often served as a seasonal summer pastor.

Bill's wife of 54 years, Frances Heckathome, survives him, as do his son, William, daughters Martha and Mary, and six grandchildren. We extend to them our sincere sympathy.

The Class of 1939