In Memoriam: William (Bill) Klassen Principal 1989-1994

In Memoriam: Dr. William (Bill) Klassen

The St. Paul's University College community was saddened to learn of the passing of William (Bill) Klassen who served as Principal of the College from 1989-1994. 

Bill was both an ordained minister in the United Church of Canada and an academic who held appointments at the University of Manitoba, the University of Toronto and the Ecole Biblique in Jersusalem. His scholarly book on Judas, written while he was St. Paul's Principal, received significant international attention.

Bill came to St. Paul's with high hopes of expanding its academic activities and profile. Peter Frick, Academic Dean, who served as Dean of Students at that time, says that Bill was an uplifting presence and his energy and sense of humour made him a great person to work with. 

Bill and his wife, Dona Harvey, established an endowed fund called the William Klassen and Dona Harvey Trust for Aboriginal Education which provides scholarship funding for Indigenous students at the University of Waterloo.

They also donated a print of the Jackson Beardy work "Homage to the Great Spirit" which hangs at the entrance to the Waterloo Indigenous Student Centre. View the obituary.