Robert F. Williams passes on

One of my old bouldering friends has died. Robert F. Williams and Rich Goldstone and I met periodically back in the 1960s in the Tetons and Black Hills primarily, for climbing and bouldering sessions. Bob was an outstanding mathematician who married a mathematician and was a member of the Advanced Institute at Princeton during his later years. 

As a climber he was particularly adept at footwork, having partly supported his graduate school education as a professional dancer (Rich can correct me when I misremember). It seems I recall a particular "feet" where he could jump off both feet and land in the two rungs of the old fashioned metal garbage can. 

I recall one incident that shook me but didn't seem to faze Bob: Several of us were playing on the Needle (Needle and Thumb) above Estes Park and  I decided to try climbing it no-hands (free solo). I made it up and watched as Bob navigated the first few moves, also free solo, then, above an overhang, the hammer in his back pocket clipped the rock and Bob teetered on the edge before regaining control and continuing. It sent a chill up my spine, but Bob didn't seem to give it a second thought. A quiet spoken gentleman. Rest in Peace old friend.

I'm heartbroken.  Bob and I had a friendship that ran from my days as an undergraduate at the University of Chicago in the mid-sixties right up to the current time.  I'd been to visit him several times  in recent years after he moved up to Princeton as a member of the Institute for Advanced Study. I hadn't heard from him recently, and now I know why. Here are some shots from way BITD.

Rest in peace my dear old friend.

Readers with a mathematical background will be interested in Bob's autobiography, written just three years ago.  https://celebratio.org/Williams_RF/article/953/

RIP Climber. Salute.

Great photos, rgold, thanks for posting them.