Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
To the Chair of BBE and the Caltech Administration:
On March 16 of this year, our dear friend and colleague, William Lease passed away just a few days before he would have turned 84 years-old. While he may have been officially known as “Biology Stockroom Supervisor”, those of us who had the pleasure of knowing and working with Bill know that he was much, much more. Faculty, staff and students alike found that Bill was part of the Biology Division’s, and later BBE’s, “secret sauce” that actually allowed the Division’s insight and ingenuity to flourish. He not only ran the stockrooms, but also fully built out the labs of new faculty, greased the skids on new equipment acquisitions, served as a friend and mentor to grad students and postdocs, was a “fixer” in any number of situations (having worked in the Division since 1965, he knew “where all of the bodies were buried!”), and was a vital element in our social fabric (think beer hours, softball, and parties at Prufrock House). To this end, we the undersigned, together ask that Bill please be memorialized appropriately, and we are willing to contribute to this. Please seriously consider a publicly visible and permanent acknowledgement of Bill Lease’s long-lasting contributions to the Biology Division/BBE in so many dimensions, and of his enrichment of our lives.
(NOTE: We are not collecting donations at this time. Any donation made at the prompt goes to iPetitions and NOT to a proposed memorial!)
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Updates
April 15, 2021
I have been hearing so many stories about Bill since this started and honestly it feels like he is still walking the halls of the division because everyone remembers a different funny or helpful thing he did back in the day. I am currently trying to figure out the right person to approach at the administration level since the silence from them is loud but we are definitely not stopping until we find a way to honor him properly.
45 Comments
A lasting legacy for Bill is such a great idea. So many fond memories, including “bartering” for small lab equipment that only he knew where to find!
I was a grad student in David Anderson's lab from 1986-91 (Ph.D. '92). I remember Bill Lease very fondly. He exemplified the very best of Caltech staff and helped generations of scientists to be able to do their jobs with aplumb. Everyone loved Bill because Bill loved to help everyone. May his memory be for a blessing.
I think the best description of Bill was what was said about his being part of Biology's "secret sauce". He was always fun to run into on campus over the many years he served at Caltech. He helped me set up Caltech's first Transgenic facility in the 80s. He was always sympathetic and understanding.
As a grad student back in the 80s, Bill made so many things more manageable. He was simultaneously personable and professional. He enabled so much science and was such a great example of how to work with integrity while balancing urgency and humanity.
Caltech is the institution it is not only for the outstanding faculty and students but do to its staff. Bill Lease was one of the most outstanding examples of a staff member that went above and beyond. He should be honored. Tina
grad student. Thanks Bill. I am grateful to meet you while as the first student working in a new lab and first time entering Div of Biology. With your help, my new project was efficiently started from an empty new bench. Your stockroom is an amazing kingdom that we always can make our hope and find things suitable to our need right away. I still have a 3D memory of lots of corners of the stockroom. I recalled my last meet to you and your family in a restaurant on lake Ave. Your story of your young life and whole career always gives me light and confidence. You will be in our memory and you deserves honor And legacy.
Thanks Bill for the kindness you showed me while I represented Fisher Scientific on campus!
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Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
To the Chair of BBE and the Caltech Administration:
On March 16 of this year, our dear friend and colleague, William Lease passed away just a few days before he would have turned 84 years-old. While he may have been officially known as “Biology Stockroom Supervisor”, those of us who had the pleasure of knowing and working with Bill know that he was much, much more. Faculty, staff and students alike found that Bill was part of the Biology Division’s, and later BBE’s, “secret sauce” that actually allowed the Division’s insight and ingenuity to flourish. He not only ran the stockrooms, but also fully built out the labs of new faculty, greased the skids on new equipment acquisitions, served as a friend and mentor to grad students and postdocs, was a “fixer” in any number of situations (having worked in the Division since 1965, he knew “where all of the bodies were buried!”), and was a vital element in our social fabric (think beer hours, softball, and parties at Prufrock House). To this end, we the undersigned, together ask that Bill please be memorialized appropriately, and we are willing to contribute to this. Please seriously consider a publicly visible and permanent acknowledgement of Bill Lease’s long-lasting contributions to the Biology Division/BBE in so many dimensions, and of his enrichment of our lives.
(NOTE: We are not collecting donations at this time. Any donation made at the prompt goes to iPetitions and NOT to a proposed memorial!)
Updates
April 15, 2021
I have been hearing so many stories about Bill since this started and honestly it feels like he is still walking the halls of the division because everyone remembers a different funny or helpful thing he did back in the day. I am currently trying to figure out the right person to approach at the administration level since the silence from them is loud but we are definitely not stopping until we find a way to honor him properly.
45 Comments
What can I say? Bill is indelibly imprinted on my memories from my time as PhD in CNS, all through my interactions at the Prufrock parties, the beer hours, the softball games. He set the tone of collegial Caltech biology. I miss him!
A lasting legacy for Bill is such a great idea. So many fond memories, including “bartering” for small lab equipment that only he knew where to find!
I was a grad student in David Anderson's lab from 1986-91 (Ph.D. '92). I remember Bill Lease very fondly. He exemplified the very best of Caltech staff and helped generations of scientists to be able to do their jobs with aplumb. Everyone loved Bill because Bill loved to help everyone. May his memory be for a blessing.
I think the best description of Bill was what was said about his being part of Biology's "secret sauce". He was always fun to run into on campus over the many years he served at Caltech. He helped me set up Caltech's first Transgenic facility in the 80s. He was always sympathetic and understanding.
As a grad student back in the 80s, Bill made so many things more manageable. He was simultaneously personable and professional. He enabled so much science and was such a great example of how to work with integrity while balancing urgency and humanity.
Caltech is the institution it is not only for the outstanding faculty and students but do to its staff. Bill Lease was one of the most outstanding examples of a staff member that went above and beyond. He should be honored. Tina
grad student. Thanks Bill. I am grateful to meet you while as the first student working in a new lab and first time entering Div of Biology. With your help, my new project was efficiently started from an empty new bench. Your stockroom is an amazing kingdom that we always can make our hope and find things suitable to our need right away. I still have a 3D memory of lots of corners of the stockroom. I recalled my last meet to you and your family in a restaurant on lake Ave. Your story of your young life and whole career always gives me light and confidence. You will be in our memory and you deserves honor And legacy.
Thanks Bill for the kindness you showed me while I represented Fisher Scientific on campus!
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What can I say? Bill is indelibly imprinted on my memories from my time as PhD in CNS, all through my interactions at the Prufrock parties, the beer hours, the softball games. He set the tone of collegial Caltech biology. I miss him!