In Memoriam: William Vaughn Stevens
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William "Bill" Stevens was born in Portland, Maine, USA, on July 13, 1939, the son of Howard Winchester and Ruth Isabel Vaughan Stevens. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Jane Maloney Stevens. He was a 1962 graduate of the University of Maine, Orono, with a degree in mechanical engineering and a fifth-year certificate in pulp and paper management. Bill served with the United States Army and Reserves from 1962-1968.
Bill was an accomplished licensed professional engineer well known in the pulp and paper industry as an expert in the field of stock preparation. He was a 26-year employee of Beloit Corp. in Dalton, where he worked as a product designer, systems engineer, and sales manager. He also worked 16 years with Hill Engineers, Architects, Planners Inc., also in Dalton, as an engineering consultant, manager and principal.
A noted member of the TAPPI since 1970, Bill was past chairman of the Paper and Board Manufacturing Division and the Stock Preparation Committee. He was the author of numerous professional publications on paper refining. He continued his own consultant work up until the time of his death: his last project was working with ZanaAfrica to design innovative pulp production to provide affordable sanitary pads for East African girls and women.
For more than 20 years, Bill was a driving force at the University of Maine’s Pulp and Paper Foundation’s Summer Institute, and was a catalyst in developing and growing the program; many young people attended his course--"Intro to Pulp and Paper Science."
During his life, Bill traveled extensively both with Jane and in his professional career, and he was Beloit's products marketing manager in Pinerolo, Italy. He also enjoyed photography, installing a darkroom in his basement, and entering contests and winning awards for his photos at the Berkshire Museum. An active member of the community,
Bill was the long-time chair of the Lanesborough Finance Committee, a coach for Lanesborough girls softball, and was an honorary member of the Girl Scouts of the USA for his volunteer work. He was also a ski instructor at Brodie Mountain from 1965 until the area closed, an avid bowler and golfer, and was a downhill ski racer and biker, competing in the New York Master's ski circuit with his friends, Joe Zelenke and Bill Ayer, and racing several years in the Josh Billings. He also enjoyed sailing with his father, brother, and children in Casco Bay, Maine.
Bill enjoyed telling stories and "Downeast jokes," solving brainteasers, and playing cribbage. Hel had many strong, lifelong friends, and will be sorely missed by many.
