In Memoriam: William K. Holstein

All of us here at the Associates of Col. Philip Ludwell III were saddened to hear of the recent passing of William Holstein, Co-President of the Friends of Green Spring. Those of us who find value in the emerging Ludwell story are indebted to Bill for his interest in our project. 

As those who know him would attest, Bill was a scholar who placed great value in both his family and the community around him. 

As we began our formalized efforts to research and publicize information about Philip Ludwell III, Bill was a gentlemanly host and guide who showed a keen interest in the history and personalities related to Green Spring, the Ludwell family’s home outside of Williamsburg, Virginia. Green Spring was founded by the legendary Royal Governor William Berkeley in the early 1640s and played an important role in the political, cultural, and economic life of early Virginia. You can learn more about the efforts of the Friends of Green Spring on their website.

In addition to his role as Co-President of the Friends of Green Spring, the 17th century site which is part of the Colonial National Historical Park, Bill was Chairman of the Governor’s Land Foundation’s Heritage Committee.

Professor William K. Holstein, Ph.D., 82, passed away in Williamsburg on October 22, 2019. He was a distinguished professor and the D. Hollins Ryan Chair of Business Administration at the Mason School of Business, College of William & Mary. He graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1958 with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He then joined the Shell Oil Company as a drilling engineer where he earned a Masters Degree in Industrial Management and later a Ph.D. in Economics from Purdue University. In 1964, he joined the faculty at the Harvard Business School. In 1972, he accepted the deanship of the School of Business at the University at Albany, New York. During this time, Bill was a visiting professor in the MBA and executive development programs at IMEDE, a business school in Lausanne, Switzerland, and led executive development programs in Singapore, Taiwan, China, England, and Central America.

Bill’s obituary can be found here.

May he rest in peace.