William Ramaley

William C. Ramaley, born in 1939, grew up in central Ohio. In 1961, he graduated from The Ohio State University and came to Colorado to continue his education, which culminated in a Ph.D. from the University of Colorado in 1969. Throughout his teaching career, which spanned 42 years, he tried to help students learn math within a liberal arts education. His two textbooks (Functional Calculus and Applied Calculus) were published in 1995 by Wm. C. Brown Co. He served in numerous positions in math organizations, including being Chairman of the Rocky Mountain Section of the Math. Assoc. of America. In addition to being a member of the MAA, he belonged to Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Xi and other academic honoraries. He helped establish the Sigma Xi Club at Fort Lewis. As an editor for the Journal of Undergraduate Mathematics, he organized a two-week conference at Fort Lewis for the Rocky Mountain Mathematics Consortium. Bill came to Fort Lewis in 1973 and retired in 2003. He had previously taught at University of Colorado, Colorado College and Carleton College (in Minnesota). He met his lifelong love, Annette, while at Carleton. She was teaching biology. They married in 1967. The next four years they lived in Minnesota during the winter, but they spent their summers at a cabin west of Estes Park. They enjoyed hiking together, taking many frequent day-long trips and doing some camping. They hiked up every significant mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park, as well as climbing other mountains in Colorado. In 1971, they moved to Colorado Springs, where Bill taught at Colorado College and where mountain hiking was available year-round. One day they hiked up from Manitou Springs to the top of Pikes Peak, a gain of over 7000 feet. They rode the cog railroad back down. While at Colorado College, Bill began to seriously study and write about western history. He published articles in the Denver Post, Teton Annual, and other newspapers. Bill and Annette's daughter, Julia, was born in 1973, that same year they came to Durango and Fort Lewis College. They bought a house on Animas Place that met three minimum requirements: a fenced yard (for their daughter), a fireplace, and a location from where Bill could walk to work. For thirty years, he enjoyed his daily walk up Calico Hill (as Chapman was then called). It was a mile from his front door to his office, with an elevation gain of 300 feet. It took him 20 minutes going up to work. Going back home was quicker. In 1979, he was appointed to the City of Durango Water Commission. He served for over 30 years. Bill always knew the importance of having clean, reliable, affordable water. He could talk on the topic for hours and was a strong supporter of having reserve water stored for Durango. Bill and Annette always loved dogs, and they almost always had a dog along on hikes, whether just along the Durango River Trail or to the summits of the San Juans, or somewhere in between. In his later years Bill often hiked alone, but with dog, camera and a cell phone. He belonged to several organizations which try to preserve historic memories and structures. His book, Trails and Trailbuilders of Rocky Mountain National Park, was acquired by Rocky Mountain National Park Association for RMNP. Hiking was a passion for him. He walked and walked. When he had the breath to do so, he talked and talked as well. Over the years he quieted down, and no longer did the highest mountains, but he kept going up as far as he could. Bill loved iris plants, calling them "Rocky Mountain Orchids." Railroads were another interest. After retirement from Fort Lewis, he worked for the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, in their museum and with special events. He collected (and played) piano sheet music with “Colorado” in its title or somehow related to Colorado. He was a volunteer for the Colorado Division of Wildlife, working in their museum at the Durango Hatchery. Bill is survived by his wife, Annette; his daughter, Julia (who married Kenneth Mastro and lives in North Carolina); his brothers (James in Gettysburg, Robert in Omaha); and other relatives. To remember him, walk or hike to a quiet place and enjoy life. A memorial service is scheduled for 4 p.m. Sunday, June 16, 2013, at Hood Mortuary. Donations in his name would be welcome at the La Plata County Historical Society or the San Juan County Historical Society in Silverton.