Bill is one of my all-time heroes, & one of the nicest & best human beings I’ve ever been lucky enough to know.
I first met Bill in Palo Alto in 1982, when we were neighbours. I was 9. So Alex & Eric became our play buddies, their house became a den of fun, & Bill would tuck all us kids into bed with his amazing terrifying hugs. Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde was genius.
When I was a teenager Bill helped foster my interest in design, giving me tips for remembering the difference between 1st & 3rd degree projections, & inviting me to visit ID2’s studios. He insisted I could sit in on the discussions about top secret prototypes, despite his colleagues’ frowns.
I remember him showing off one prototype of sheer wonder: a pair of lip-shaped devices where one pair of lips glowed according to how you blew a kiss into the other pair of lips. Bill had the same cheeky glint in his eye as when he explained his real pride in designing the GRID was the little trick to scoop out your pencil so it doesn’t block the clamshell.
I remember family holidays with Bill & Karin; hiking up an insanely steep Italian hillside at dawn & sitting painting watercolours with Bill. His insanely fast & swervy driving. His intense love of life. His kindness & generosity & humility.
So remembering Bill today on what would be his 70th birthday brings a big smile for all these fond memories, thanks for all he gave me, & sadness that he’s no longer with us. What a life.
Happy Birthday & thank you for everything, Bill. The world is far, far better off than it would have been without you.