William G. Koellner

It is with great sadness that the family of William G. Koellner, "Bill", announces his passing on Sunday January 21 2018, at the age of 90. He died peacefully following complications from heart disease. Bill was Born in the Bronx, NY, grew up in Elizabeth, NJ and then spent 62 years as a resident of Cranford, NJ. Bill's lifelong career was as a Mathematics Educator. Following graduation from Montclair State College he began his career as a high school Math teacher in Hillside, NJ. This was followed by a six-year period as Mathematics Chairman for the Cranford School System and then as a professor at Montclair State and Rutgers Universities for 35 and 38 years respectively. Bill was also a WWII veteran serving in the 3705 Army Air Force Base Unit and a lifelong member of Mensa. After retiring as a College Educator, he continued to promote mathematics and tutored many students and other educators. Post retirement he also turned his focus to his love of classical music and auditioned and was accepted to the Julliard School of Music. He played numerous concerts at Steinway Hall in New York City and co-taught a course that focused on the "mathematics of music". Mozart and Chopin were his favorites, however he loved to play the blues and boogie-woogie and would tell many stories of how he spent his "misspent youth" playing for tips in New Orleans bars when he was stationed in Biloxi, MS. His other retirement interests included an affiliation with the Princeton University Astrophysics Department and locally as a Tai Chi grand master. Bill continued to contribute to Cranford and the education community by serving as a member of the Cranford Board of Education Senior Advisory Committee. He was a charter member of this group. Even with his many personal accomplishments his pride and joy was his family, especially his four grandchildren and two great-grandsons. He is survived by his wife Dolores of 65 years, his son Kevin and his wife Therese and son Kenneth and his wife Polly, four grandchildren, Scott, Courtney, Connor and Michael and two great-grandsons, Martin and Walter. Viewing and memorial service will be held at Gray Memorial Funeral Home, 12 Springfield Avenue, Cranford, NJ on Saturday January 27 from 9:00am until service time at 10:15 am. You may go to grayfuneralhomes.com for on line condolences.
In lieu of flowers please donate to the William Koellner Scholarship Fund (https://www.gofundme.com/william-koellner-scholarship-fund). This fund will provide a scholarship to a 2018 Cranford High School graduate planning to study Mathematics at a New Jersey State college or university.