William Francis Wolz

December 17, 1936 - September 14, 1997

		Sunset and evening star,
		  And one clear call for me!
		And may there be no moaning of the bar,
		  When I put out to sea.

		For though from out our bourne of Time and Place
		  The flood may bear me far,
		I hope to see my Pilot face to face
		  When I have crost the bar.

					Alfred, Lord Tennyson
					(from Crossing the Bar)

A Brief Biography of Bill, by his wife, Priscilla

Bill was born in Chicago and grew up in a "small town" section of that
city known as Norwood Park. He was very active in Scouting, high school
football, and hanging around with a girl named Priscilla Fisher. He
started college at Miami of Ohio, married Priscilla in 1958, and
graduated from the University of Illinois in Aeronautical Engineering in
1960.

His first professional job was at Avco Corporation near Tewksbury,
Massachusetts where, among other things, he helped design the heat
shield for the Apollo space capsule and also became active in local
politics. In 1961, daughter Elizabeth was born, and in 1966 the family
moved to California and settled in Huntington Beach. Bill took a
position at the Aerospace Corporation in El Segundo where he has worked
in various capacities on several challenging projects and from which he
was not yet ready to retire.

In addition to a very satisfying career, he had a variety of outside
interests. At different times in his busy life, some favorite activities
included: boating and saltwater fishing, dog show competition, hiking
and chaperoning Jr. high students on Yosemite field trips, bicycling,
and snorkeling. He also enjoyed classical music, opera, photography and
travel.

He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by his wife, Priscilla;
daughter, Elizabeth Herring, and her husband, Sandy; sister, Mary Payne,
and her sons Brad and Bill; sister-in-law, Suzanne Voltz and her sons,
Stephen and wife, Leah; John and fiancee, Cindy; David; Thomas and other
family and friends.

Eulogy delivered by his son-in-law, Sandy

Thankyou all for coming today to join us in honoring Bill's memory and
laying him to rest. 

This past week, as I struggled with what I wanted to say and how best to
express it, my mind often detoured to the image of the scene in City
Slickers where the cook was asked to eulogize Curly, the gruff trail
boss. He didn't know Curly at all well, and the best he could come up
with was (and I'll paraphrase - out of respect for this holy place),
"Lord, we give you Curly. Try not to tick'm off too much."

Fortunately, I think I can do a little better than that for Bill. He was
a second father to me and a friend, as well. I lost my own father when I
was twelve. When I married Liz almost three years ago, my life was
enriched not only be her love, but also by the love of the new family I
gained. I was a little nervous about meeting Liz's parents when we first
started dating. But Priscilla and Bill both immediately made me feel at
ease. As I grew to know Bill, I also came to understand why, like Curly,
he was occasionally a little cantankerous. He had high expectations of
himself and others - and a low threshold for injustice and folly. The
values he held dear are nowadays too seldom exhibited, and this can be
frustrating. Bill set an example for us all... by the love he had for
his family and friends, and by the excellence he achieved and expected
from others. Liz is a shining example of the blessings that flow from
being raised in a family that sets those standards. We hope to pass
along that legacy to the daughter who will soon light up our lives.
Having such incredible joy and sadness occur simultaneously in our lives
has resulted in an emotional vertigo. I don't know how to put into words
the disappointment of knowing that Dad won't get to bounce his
granddaughter on his knee. There is a Zen parable which I'd like to
share with you that has helped me to fathom this paradox. 


A Zen master renowned for his exquisite calligraphy was summoned by the
emperor to create a joyous work of art on the occasion of the emperor's
birthday. Under the close scrutiny of the emperor, the master made
several attempts to fulfill the request without achieving the excellence
for which he was known. Disgusted and frustrated, he summoned his energy
and in a burst of creativity penned with perfection... 



			    Grandfather dies
			      Father dies
				Son dies



The emperor was outraged, and demanded an explanation of why his request
for something joyous was not satisfied. The Zen master calmly explained
that he had satisfied the request. When these events occur in the
prescribed order, it is a source of joy. Any other sequence is a
tragedy.


We are all fortunate to have known Bill. He leaves a part of himself in
us all. And that includes the granddaughter whose life he was able to
feel and whose movements he witnessed. I'm grateful that we had an
opportunity to let him know in no uncertain terms how very much we love
him, and how much his love for us impacts our lives. 

Dad, God bless and keep you!

A poem written by Bill's coworker at Aerospace, Rick Hayden

Priscilla,

Dr. Hai Nguyen, at the time of his struggle in helping his mother fight
that which was to be a losing battle with cancer, said to me quietly as
Bill had just cheerily limped by us - "He is my Hero." We all miss him
terribly.

Rick


                                For Bill


A Hero has passed before us.

A fighter, a man of high purpose, keen intelligence and consummate skills;
a man of industry, a man of honor.

A selfless man, so assured was he within himself; always there, always
ready to help. A leader by example, who stood to face all challenges with 
confidence, backed by his army of knowledge of why, and where, and how, 
and when.

A cheerful man, who lightened the burden of all whose lives he touched,
who inspired all who were privileged to glimpse, through the always wide-
open window, that remarkable life.

A man who would not, if he could, allow us to mourn our loss -
But say instead to forge ahead, discounting the personal cost.

Who will fill this vacuum where we meet? Which one or two or three of us
can begin to be as much?

Let us, each one, take but that small portion as we can, develop it within 
ourselves and continue to share it with one another; for let it never be 
forgotten:

A Hero has passed before us.

                                                       Rick Hayden 9-15-97

A favorite prayer forwarded by Mitch Woldoff, Sandy's brother-in-law

		Birth is a beginning
		And death a destination.
		And life is a journey:...
		We see that victory lies
		Not at some high place along the way,
		But in having made the journey, stage by stage,
		    A sacred pilgrimage.
		Birth is a beginning.

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