William Frederick Prokasy IV
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William Frederick Prokasy IV died November 4th, 2019, at home with his loving wife Pamela at his side. Bill was born in Cleveland, OH, on November 27, 1930. Before coming to Athens in 1988 Bill began his varied career at age 12 with quite a few jobs, some of which were paperboy, cemetery maintenance worker, school system custodian, vegetable/fruit roadside marketer, setter of wooden pins in a bowling alley, neighborhood ice cream truck driver, and his favorite, milkman. His academic career began in 1948 when he graduated in North Olmsted, OH, with almost every academic and sports honor bestowed.
A graduate of Baldwin Wallace, Bill held a Masters in Clinical Psychology from Kent State and a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology and Statistics from Madison-Wisconsin. He served on the faculty of Penn State and was Dean at the Universities of Utah and Illinois before coming to Georgia in 1988 where he retired as Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs, Emeritus, in 1998. Bill served on countless Boards, wrote four books and over 70 journal articles.
Always putting others above himself, and putting what was good for more people over that for a few, Bill Prokasy continued to be active after his retirement. Some of Bill's many roles included the following: he served on both the Regional and local Public Library Boards, the Classic Center Foundation Board, the Boards of the Georgia Museum of Art and the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, a member of Athens Torch Club and more. Bill also belonged to two book groups and he and Pam attended as many cultural and sports events as their calendar would allow. They also endowed the Prokasy Professorship of the Arts.
Somehow Bill found time for hobbies of genealogy, photography, and travel. He and Pam were also known to have the party house in their neighborhood, as it was always open to family and friends with any excuse to open a bottle of wine or to play a game with the grandchildren.
To list only immediate family. Bill is preceded in death by his parents, William and Margaret Prokasy, his brother Jim Prokasy and his sisters Marge Salway and Laura Isaacs. In addition to his wife Pam, Bill leaves to grieve for him two daughters, Cheryl Schumer (Larry) of Salt Lake City and Kathi Geisler of the Boston area, as well as two granddaughters, Sarah Glass and Julia Villianeau. Bill also leaves his great grandchildren Zev, Moriah and Tzelia Glass, and Cameron and Jada Villianeau, all of the Boston area. Closer to home, Bill leaves to grieve for him his stepson Kevin Wier of Charleston, SC, and stepdaughter Lisa (Joshua) Cauthen. Their daughters Natalie and Lindsey Cauthen, all of Athens GA, will miss their "Poppy."
A memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be given to the Athens-Clarke County Public Library.