William Dawes
Associate Professor Emeritus/John S. Toll Professor
Department of Economics

We sadly share the news that our esteemed colleague William (Bill) S. Dawes, emeritus associate professor of economics, passed away this week after valiantly living with cancer in recent months.

Bill was a faculty member in the Department of Economics from 1969 until his retirement in 2016, then held a John S. Toll Professorship for three years. Last fall, Bill came back to the classroom one last time to participate in the Department’s Teaching Practicum ECO 698, which he taught for decades. He taught Introduction to Economics, ECO 108 for more than 40 years (Javits 100 was his backyard), and generations of students remember him dearly. In fact, some of his former students established the William Dawes Fund for Excellence in November of 2010, the proceeds of which are now used to give the Department’s yearly awards to graduate students in recognition of their teaching and research excellence. 

From 1999-2010, Bill served as chair or co-chair of the Department of Economics, and served as undergraduate program director for several years until the Fall of 2015. 

Bill was a mentor and friend to many, and his dedication to undergraduate education was inspirational. His love for Stony Brook and its students is a legacy that will always be part of the Department of Economics and its mission. 

Current Department of Economics chair Hugo Benitez-Silva fondly recalls the gatherings Bill held on Friday afternoons for assistant professors to chat over wine and cheese, where he would illuminate how to navigate the tough adaptation they were all going through. 

“Without his guidance and sense of humor to put my epic failures in perspective, I would not be the committed and motivated instructor I am today,” Benitez-Silva said.  “Many years later, I have also realized that many of our interactions during my first decade at SBU also taught me a lot about the skills required to be a Chair, which have served me well in the last three years.

Bill is no longer with us, but his commitment to our Department, SBU, and to higher education will never be extinguished as his teachings touched thousands of lives during his legendary career as an undergraduate educator.”

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 13, 2023 at 11:00 am, at the Setauket Presbyterian Church. A reception will follow at the church at 12:30 pm. All are welcome to attend the service, reception, or both. 

In lieu of flowers, and to honor Bill’s memory, the family welcomes contributions to the William Dawes Endowed Fund for Excellence in Economics. Please click here for details.

Bill's love for our institution and students was an inspiration to us all, and something to be remembered and celebrated.

5/4/23