North Orange County ROP Recreational Leadership Instructor
1980-1998
North Orange County ROP Administrator, Instructional Programs
1998-2010
It has been
said of a person’s life that what matters is not the dates on
either end, but what lies in the little dash between them.
Bill’s life dash was way too short, but packed with adventure,
good works, friends, family, honor, a rewarding occupation, and
a lifetime of choosing paths not always easy but always right
for what “Dr. Bill” saw as the higher good.
Bill
started his professional life as a pilot and an FAA certified
pilot trainer. Grounded by illness in his thirties, he flew on
the slopes instead. A natural born teacher, Bill was at his
happiest imparting his love of adventure to people who
ordinarily would never ski. On weekends and spring break from
teaching
ROP
Recreational Leadership classes he taught students at the
California Adaptive Ski School how to fly down the mountains on
their own. He “knew people” who built special skis for people
needing adaptive equipment, and wrangled them often to make
“free” equipment for students.
Sharing the
sheer joy of snow sports wasn’t his only avocation. He was also
a founding director of the “World’s Greatest Camp,” sponsored by
the Orange County Foundation for Oncology, Children, and
Families. He called it the “Cancer Camp.” As a cancer survivor,
he knew that sometimes disease becomes an obsession in
families. He wanted kids to be kids—not kids with a diagnosis.
Not only did he initially train and supervise staff, he planned
and directed activities, helped with promotion and fundraising,
and served as a liaison among staff, medical teams, parents and
children. He built volunteer experiences with the ski school
and cancer camp into his Recreational Leadership curriculum so
his students could volunteer to provide fun and adventure to
kids whose lives didn’t hold much of either. And, yes, Bill
volunteered, too.
Bill earned
a doctorate in Educational Leadership and became an
administrator at North Orange County ROP in 1998. The program
serves five north OC school districts, and Bill was primarily
responsible for ROP classes at schools in Anaheim, Cypress, La
Palma and Los Alamitos. He was dedicated to his teachers, to
the students, and to the Career Education Foundation. His
teachers always had the most student award nominations because
Bill always wrote it into their goals. He felt passionately
that it was imperative to recognize students for a job well
done.
Bill’s
office had an open door to all, but he wasn’t there often. He
was either “putting out fires” or visiting and observing his
teachers. “What do you need to do the job?” he would always ask
them. Because he was such a good teacher himself, he was
constantly making suggestions to teachers about how to engage
students effectively. He also kept a tub of red vines in his
office. Every ROP staff member’s kids, grandkids and their
cousins knew to visit Bill for candy and a free helping of
genuine interest in their schoolwork, sports, or other
activities. Bill’s sense of humor was legendary. His practical
jokes always made the victim’s day because the jokes were always
lighthearted and fun, never mean.
Bill was
active in the California Association of Regional Occupational
Centers and Programs as the Membership Chair; he was the Orange
County Chapter President in 2004-05; and he was active in the
Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) as the
North Orange County
ROP
Charter President. Bill was also one of four directors of the
Career Education Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charity whose sole
purpose is to grant awards and scholarships or fund books and
class materials for North Orange County ROP students. Yet Bill
was never impressed with the “Director” title. For the last
several years, in fact, he directed traffic at the ROP student
awards ceremony that is attended by more than 1,000 people.
Bill’s
list of accomplishments, affiliations, and letters of
commendation from cities, counties, and institutions is so
lengthy that it is impossible to cite them all. That brings us
to his most pronounced character trait—humility.
As a
genuinely accomplished person, Bill downplayed his own
achievements and skills. He loved people, and he always gave
everyone the benefit of the doubt. Unkind words never passed
Bill’s lips; he respected even the unrespectable; and he kept
secrets quite well. Even though we could see him fading right
before our eyes, he never let on that he was sick, and would
resort to some evasive humor every time any one of us dared to
bring it up.
William
Allan Nelson passed away after battling illness for two
years on Sunday, March 7, 2010, just 12 days short of his 56th
birthday. Bill was loved by every person in his life. He is
survived by the family he adored; his wife, Karen, and his children, Travis, 22, and Kaitlynn, 20. He will be missed more than he would ever imagine
or expect.
More than 400 people
attended Bill's service at the Diamond Bar Center in Diamond
Bar on Monday, March 15. John Hansen, instructor, Health
Fitness and Sports Medicine, hired a small plane to fly over
the Center and dip it's wings in memory of our favorite
pilot. Family, former students, family friends, and ROP
staff, including Dr. Worley, Lynne Porter and Dee
Niedringhaus, spoke at the service. Everyone testified to
the lasting and positive influence Bill had on their lives,
his humor, his joy in living, his dedication to his
students, teachers and colleagues, and his love for his
family.
A scholarship for a student
of outstanding character is being set up in Bill's name.
Candidates will be selected from among the award nominees
already submitted for the Celebration of Success. There are
quite a number of good candidates. Your tax-deductible
contributions for the scholarship can be sent to the Career
Education Foundation, 385 N. Muller Street, Anaheim CA
92801.
I was a student of Bill's back in the early 80's
& I was lucky enough to attend the 2nd OCF-OCF (Cancer)
Camp in June of 1983. Believe it or not I have
not missed a camp since then. I have been
the Camp Director since 1989 & I continue to
pass on the traditions & leadership skills I
learn from Bill all those years ago. He
was a huge influence in my life!! I will
carry a piece of him in heart always.
Thanks again!
Brenda Hohnstein
"In the
short amount of time that I was privileged to know Bill,
his life truly affected me."
"He is an amazing example to
us all."
"Bill will be missed by all."
"He was a great teacher and even a better
friend."
"Someone who lived his life to the fullest, treated everyone with respect and
gave so much of himself to others."
"He will never be forgotten."
