The Martha’s Vineyard Years
Retreating somewhat from the intensity of the AIDS years, in 1989 William began studying linguistics at San Francisco State University. For several years following his degree in 1993, William lived both in San Francisco and on Martha’s Vineyard at the family cottage near Seth’s Pond.
House at Seth’s Pond
Martha’s Vineyard memories of William — mostly of images and feelings and tones of our time together — many delicious meals, elbow to elbow in the petite kitchen [at William’s family cottage at Seth’s pond], out to the garden to pick fresh lettuce; then candlelight or kerosene lamp on the porch — hours of conversation. Always a delight to be with him. Tea by the fire, swimming in the moonlight, sharing tales of life, hopes, dreams, wishes disappointments. He was such a good listener and a wonderful story-teller. I appreciated both. —Martha Flanders
In 1998, he traveled to Russia to donate his calligraphic celebration honoring Russian poet Osip Mandelstam: Preserve My Words Forever, an epic work he was immensely proud of. By that time he was living full-time in Martha’s Vineyard with occasional visits to San Francisco.
In December 2008, William decided to leave Martha’s Vineyard in search for a gay community in which to live. Soon thereafter he embarked on a Vision Quest to many gay sanctuaries and communities across North America. His quest led him in 2010 to write “Stewarding the Future” and also “I Want to Die in Heart Circle.”
An obituary for William by Rebecca Gordon appeared in the December 6, 2021 edition of The Martha’s Vineyard Times.
Tribute to William in Martha’s Vineyard Magazine
