Michael Ronan Williams, Ph.D.

Mike Williams has died as he lived- peacefully, gently, and with a nobility of spirit.

We grieve his loss and celebrate his life. Mike was supportive, loving and self-effacing in all his relationships and leaves an example that guides us. He could not have been a better husband, Dad or Poppy, brother or friend.

During his Milwaukee years, he was a member of Students United for Racial Equality at Marquette, challenging the University’s silence on societal inequities and among other efforts marching with Father Groppi to bring awareness and change to segregationist housing ordinances and practices. Ethically committed to non-violence he questioned the Vietnam War supporting friends among the Milwaukee 14 and other such actions of resistance and peace-making. It was at this time, in the midst of these activities that he met and married Mary Alice and began a family. They relocated to Grand Rapids MI in 1974.

He was by vocation a teacher who for more than sixty years, touched the lives of students in settings as varied as pre-school, middle school, high school and college. He was co-founder and administrator of Highland Community School in Milwaukee.

Mike had a classical Jesuit education and earned advanced degrees in philosophy, mechanical engineering and urban education. Building on this background, he gave forty years of service to Aquinas College as a cross-disciplinary Professor, Faculty Development Director, representative for the Eastown Project, creator of the academic Community Leadership Program, Director of the Semester in Ireland Program and Dean of the School of Education. After retiring he volunteered with the campus Writing Center, an opportunity to contribute and stay connected to young people which brought him great joy. He was named Professor Emeritus on retirement and was later inducted into the Aquinas College Hall of Fame.

He was an active volunteer and board member of the Eastown Community Association.  He was on the board of the Council of Neighborhood Associations (CONA); board member of SEED in early efforts that led to the development of Uptown; and a member of the Rabbit 14 as a named defendant. He was appointed to several task forces of the Grand Rapids Public Schools.  He served on the board of Planned Parenthood of West Michigan and was an advocate for reproductive choice. He had a passion for justice, racial equity, community building and peace-making that played out in steady behind-the-scenes efforts to advance the beloved community.

Mike wrote three books on topics of neighborhood organizing, urban school reform, and parent involvement. He also contributed essays to a book on Eastown. He was revising a manuscript on Love in his final years.

He played basketball well into his seventies, scored two holes in one on public golf courses and walked to work every day. He rooted for Detroit teams always, but was most of all a die-hard Notre Dame fan.  He had an enviable tenor voice put to best use singing to his adoring girls who never tired of his rendition of Scarlet Ribbons.

A native of Detroit, Mike was the eldest child of the late David Wynn Williams and Florence Ronan who provided an idyllic childhood for him. He is survived and missed by those most blessed by his daily love and devotion: Mary Alice, his life partner and dearest friend for more than 55 years; his cherished daughters Dr. Christa Williams of Minneapolis and Cara Williams Gardner of Grand Rapids; Jason Gardner, Cara’s husband who was as a son to him; and his beloved grandsons, Nolan and Aidan Gardner who loved their Poppy and enriched his later years.

He is also survived by loved siblings, Thomas Williams, Sheila Mc Logan, and David Williams; sisters-in-law Shirley Williams, Anne Peckham, Marianne Kerns Peckham, Susan Vargas Peckham; niece Katie Mc Logan, nephew Kevin Mc Logan; Ronan, Walsh, Lovell and Williams cousins.  He is also survived by The Golf Buds, those special Aquinas friends who were loyal comrades to the end; the hundreds of students he taught and kept track of, whose successes and sorrows mattered to him; respected Aquinas colleagues including many Dominican Sisters; and long-time close friends who are like family in Grand Rapids, Milwaukee and Philadelphia.  Beloved nephews Tommy and Peter Williams died before him at too-young an age, as did five missed Peckham brothers-in-law.

Mike was most appreciative of his Corewell Hospice team which enabled him to die at home as he desired and provided comfort care in the final five months of his life as he experienced the diminishments of Parkinson’s Disease.  Ever the philosopher, Mike spoke of coming into the end zone and going toward the light with curiosity, retrospection and an openness to the unknown.

We honor Mike by asking and acting on the question “Who is my neighbor?” which guided his teaching, writing and relationships with all. By engaging as informed citizens championing democracy and resisting threats to it.  And when in doubt, by opting for mercy and compassion.

Family and friends will gather at a date to be announced, for a celebration of Mike’s life.

For those who choose to do so Memorial Gifts may be designated to:

The Community Leadership Program at Aquinas College

1700 Fulton St SE Grand Rapids MI 49506 www.aquinas.edu

or The Parkinson’s Foundation at www.parkinson.org

His memory is our blessing.