Charles William Huntley '34, whose association with Union spanned more than one-quarter of the College's existence, died April 17 at Ellis Hospital after a short illness. He was 82.
Bill Huntley's official titles included dean of the College, professor of psychology, chairman of the Psychology Department, secretary of the College, provost, and Gilbert R.
Livingston Professor of Psychology.
Unofficially, he was for many years the College's head groundskeeper, contributing countless hours to planting trees and creating a beautiful campus. He had many other
interests, ranging from birdwatching to antique refinishing, but it was his concern for
the campus' appearance that established his campus legend.
At Union, Huntley was managing editor of Concordiensis, where he showed no
hesitation in campaigning for improvements. The Alumni Association of New York, in giving
him a certificate for devoted service, said he “effectively harnessed the little
realized but immensely powerful influence which undergraduates can exert in shaping the
college offering. Thus, you helped launch the divisional system of education pioneered by
an imaginative faculty group on the campus….”
He received his M.A. and Ph.D. from Harvard University, serving as an instructor of
psychology there and at Radcliffe College during his graduate years. In 1938, he married
Lee Hoffman, his sister's classmate at Emerson College. Mrs. Huntley died in 1987.
In the fall of 1938, Mr. Huntley became an instructor of psychology at Western Reserve
University, now Case Western Reserve, in Cleveland. Three years later, he was named dean
of Adelbert College, the men's college of Western Reserve, at the age of 28. He returned
to Union in 1947 when he was appointed professor of psychology and dean of the College.
Mr. Huntley continued to teach at least one course a semester during his years as dean.
In 1964, when it became apparent that the job as dean was becoming too administratively
demanding and could no longer involve regular teaching, he resigned to return to full-time
teaching. He also was named chairman of the Psychology Department.
He rejoined the administration briefly in 1968 to serve as acting dean of the College.
Ten years later, he was again tapped for administrative service when he became provost of
the College, a post he held for two years. He was named to the Livingston chair in
psychology in 1982 and retired from teaching in 1986.
For many years, Mr. Huntley was a leading force in campus beautification projects. The
campus lost hundreds of trees when Dutch elm disease struck Schenectady in the 1950s, but
a systematic landscaping effort conceived and supervised by Huntley and Professor of Civil
Engineering H. Gilbert Harlow led to the planting of replacement trees and shrubs.
Mr. Huntley was a popular figure on the alumni club circuit, and in recognition of his
service to the College, the Alumni Council presented him with its two highest awards – the
Faculty Meritorious Service Award and the Alumni Gold Medal.
Survivors include two daughters, Deborah Carpenter, of Somers, N.Y., and Elizabeth
Huntley, of Greenfield Center, N.Y.; a sister, Elizabeth Fitch, of Lakeville, Conn.; six
grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be announced. Burial will be in Clifton Park Center Baptist
Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to the C. William Huntley Endowed Scholarship Fund in care of
College Relations.