Terrence Josiah Williams

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Williams, Terrence Josiah died August 5, 2015 in St Paul from heart failure. Terry was born on January 16, 1929, in San Francisco, and spent his boyhood in Dustbowl Kansas, an experience he described for his grandchildren in a memoir. He served as a Marine on the battleship Iowa during the Korean War. His multi-faceted career began at the University of Kansas Library where he had the foresight to build a remarkable collection of mid-20th century experimental poetry. He was a discerning reader, and published the first English translation of Tomas Transtromer, later a Nobel laureate. He encouraged the early work of such poets and artists as Robert Creeley, Thom Gunn, Marianne Faithfull, and Allen Ginsberg, organizing public readings and performances for them before this became routine on college campuses. He and his first wife, Nancy, welcomed Ginsberg, the photographer Robert Frank and various Beat poets into their home for extended stays. As the poet Ed Sanders, of the rock band The Fugs, said much later, "We owe you, man." In 1970, Terry moved to Minnesota, where he joined the Hazelden Foundation. As a family therapist, he trained with psychiatrist Murray Bowen at Georgetown University, and became the founding director of the Family Center at Hazelden, a post he held until his retirement in 1991. In 1988 he married Patricia Hampl. He wrote several books on alcoholism and the family that are enduring documents in the field. He was a tour guide at the Walker Art Center and volunteered in the Walker Library as a cataloguer. But his greatest gift was his ability to live well and truly every day. Simplicity was his native instinct, with his modest manner and natural elegance. He and Patricia traveled extensively, and made their home a welcoming work of art that reflected their love of the old Cathedral Hill neighborhood they claimed as their own when it was still a faded urban wreck. In the same way, Terry turned a well-worn wooden 1940 Chris Craft cabin cruiser into a dream boat that he'd take down the Mississippi River on magical adventures. On lucky occasions he'd sing the lyrics to one of the astonishing number of romantic songs from the 30s and 40s he could summon in his sweet voice. Terry never lost his curiosity, his passionate belief in progressive politics, his deep kindness and acceptance of the struggles of others. He reveled in the lives of his three sons and their children, and lived with great relish until his graceful end. He is survived by his wife, Patricia, his sons from his first marriage: Jonathan of Los Angeles (Kimberly Pesenti), Stephen of New York, Peter of Austin, TX (Lauren Jaben), seven grandchildren, and a niece and nephew in Australia. Funeral Service 10 AM Tuesday, August 11, 2015 at ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH (60 N. Kent St. at Portland, St. Paul). Visitation 5-8 PM Monday at O'HALLORAN AND MURPHY FUNERAL HOME (575 S. Snelling Ave., St. Paul) 651-698-0796. Burial at Oakland Cemetery.

Published on August 9, 2015