William Spencer ’45

Will Spencer died July 3, 2009, in St. Augustine, Fla., after a brief struggle with multiple myeloma.

Will prepared for Princeton at Exeter and joined Tower Club. In 1943 he enlisted in the Army and served in India as a cryptanalyst. Returning to Princeton, he received a bachelor’s degree in English in 1949. He later received a master’s degree in American literature from Duke and a Ph.D. in international relations from American University.

Will’s career focused mainly on the Middle East. He authored numerous publications on that area. He served briefly with the CIA, then taught English in Turkey and joined the USAID Program. He taught at Florida State University and then at the University of Florida until 1980. At the time of his death, he was preparing to teach at Flagler College in St. Augustine.

Will came from a long line of Princetonians. His grandfather was William Spencer 1870, and his father was Herbert R. Spencer ’17. Two uncles were in the classes of 1907 and 1915. He was predeceased by his brother Dave ’45, and is survived by his brother Herb ’49, in addition to his wife of 40 years, the former Elizabeth Bouvier; son Christopher; daughters Meredith Ellsworth and Ann Matthiesen; stepson Rick Robbins; and seven grandchildren. The class expresses its sympathy to the family.