Finding my Inner Light

Thank you for your sweet words about William. He was my closest friend for the past 20 years or so. He always loved teaching and viewed it as a spiritual experience. Blessings to you and all his ACC students past and present.

Jay Erwin-Grotsky

I knew William back in those film days when we slogged through the lab wars together. He was a prince of a guy, deeply spiritual, a superb craftsman, so mirthful and happy and a pleasure to be around. I hadn't seen him in years, but he will none the less truly be missed. RIP, dear sir.
Blaine Pennington

I took Williams fundamentals class as a refresher just before I started teaching at ACC. He was always very helpful and kind while I was taking his class and every time we talked since. I always appreciated his opinion, his wit, and presence and will surely miss him.

ACH

I'm not exactly sure when William first signed up for my Fine Arts Printmaking course, but it was a long time ago because we both had a long tenure here at ACC in common. Our relationship started out student-teacher but grew, over a couple semesters, into a friendship based on mutual respect and common interests. William was always curious and a very quick study, and his willingness to "push the boundaries" led to some excellent hand-pulled prints. His sense of humor, and his appreciation of the arts and the difficulties of teaching subjective courses, always made me feel appreciated. I was shocked and saddened to hear of his passing, ACC has lost a wonderful instructor, a genuinely good soul, and an irrepressible, and irreplaceable student.

Ward Walker
Adjunct Art Professor, Printmaking

William Kolberg was a prince of a man. At one time I was his massage therapist, and he considered massage not only a good thing for his health, but a way to reach the more spiritual realms. I was disappointed after I found out that I had taken the wrong Photoshop class -- that I missed his class. He loved what he did, and he was great at it. I was thinking about taking that class this fall. Too late.

I missed him when life took him elsewhere, and trust that wherever he is, he's laughing and saying "Hey! I hadn't used it all up yet!"

I took his Digital 1 class this spring semester. He was very kind, friendly and helpful. Although it wasn't convenient for him to move, he would always come to help us when we had problems with stuff.He was very patient too. I'm very sad that he left us.

William will be missed terribly. I have been away from ACC for several years but when I heard the news of William's passing this morning I was deeply saddened yet immediately I couldn't help but smile thinking of my old friends stories of the good old days. William's passion for film was infectious and I will never forget hanging out in the photo lab discussing how I was not a real tea drinker for loving my Starbucks chai. We will meet again William...see you then. Much Love always, Rachel Hatch

I worked with William for over 22 years at A.C.C. He was an important part of our department and a big part of my life. He loved teaching. William genuinely had a sunny outlook when he came to teach and NEVER complained even if he didn’t feel well. He always looked forward to his classes and even volunteered to teach more classes and host the open labs when it was needed. William always wanted to help me with writing curriculum for the fundamentals classes and every year wanted to help select the location for the department faculty holiday parties. He loved a good party!

William loved teaching and being in education. I think he always felt at home in the lab, whether it be in the darkroom printing black and white negatives, or in the digital lab the last couple of years.

Some of the things I will really miss about William are; his love for crossword puzzles and fondness for good writing pens, knowing he was in the department because of the smell of patchouli, calling me every week and asking “is there anything else we need to talk about?”, his stories about growing up on the dairy farm, the sound of his big laugh rolling down the hall and into my office, but most of all I will miss his big heart, he really was a big soft bear. I will miss you William. Your A.C.C family will really miss you. We love you.

With fond memories,
Kathryn Watts-Martinez
Austin Community College
Photographic Technology

I've visited this page quite a few times intending to write and ending up getting too choked up after reading and rereading the wonderful comments and observations about William. I first met William when he was running the E6 line at Holleman's Photo on 12th street. That's a long time ago when there were maybe 12 professional photographers in town. He came to the counter to meet me and after that if he wasn't working that day my film wasn't getting processed. He showed he truly wanted and did run a great line. When the lab sold I lost track of him for a few years but when I joined the ACC faculty nearly ten years ago I rediscovered William-what a great bonus.

William was born to teach and he was a great teacher. He had the qualities that all great teachers have; a love for his subject, a generous heart in sharing his knowledge. Toss in patience, infinite curiosity, and a great sense of humor and well that's William.

It's a great loss for our ACC family and our students. I keep expecting to see you in the hall or holding forth in lab. I enjoyed our time together and you will be remembered and missed my friend for you touched so many.
till we meet again

Scot Hill

I'm William's cousin, and it is such a joy to read how much love his friends, co-workers, teachers, and students felt for him.

I've always known he was a very special person - even way back when we were growing up, and he was cute little "Billy". Through the stages in his life, "Billy" became "Bill", and eventually, "William".

William is truly one gone from us too soon, but oh, what a legacy of love and joy and laughter he leaves behind for us to follow. How blessed we are to have known him.

I am so glad you were his friends, and I look forward to meeting William's other family at his Memorial Service next Friday, August 29th. It would have been his 60th birthday, so I hope you will come ready to celebrate his life, even as we mourn our loss.

Gail Brown

I'm new to ACC and William really helped me feel welcome and at home there. He was always willing to help me and enjoyed sharing ideas and having fun with technology. I'll miss him and I'm grateful to have known him.

My deepest and most sincere sympathies to his friends and family.

William was my first photography instructor around 18 years ago. Our friendship grew from there. He taught me a lot about photography and the darkroom. As a student, I remember whenever I asked him a question, he would always start the teaching process with, well, what do you think? It would sometimes drive me crazy and we'd laugh about that. He really tried to inspire you to think.

Years later as I became a colleague at ACC. William was so supportive and helped me with my many questions. I will always refer to him as my darkroom Guru. I really thank him for that.

As a friend, William was always kind and considerate. We wouldn't see each other often but he would always ask about me, my family, etc. and just genuinely cared. He never complained and I don't think anyone that knew him will ever forget his hearty laugh.

I'm really going to miss him and know that he had a very gentle soul and that still lives on.
Love,
Julie

Thank you all for your kind comments regarding William's impact on your lives, and about what kind of person he was.

William was all we could aspire to be, and I'm glad I got the opportunity to know him. I too, like Scot, visit here often to see what people have to say about William, and usually end up trying to restrain myself from choking up into tears.

Just like Kat said, he really was a big soft bear. Quite possibly, one of the nicest people I've ever met.

For those of you who knew William and wish to celebrate his life, please come to Weed Corley Fish Funeral home, located on 3125 N. Lamar, at 11pm on Friday, August 29th. It would have been his 60th Birthday.

Thank you all, and see you next Friday.

I just found out about Williams passing today when I was walking down the hall in the photography department. I did not have summer classes or classes last semester so it was a real shocker reading about this posted to the doors. He was a great instructor, I had him for all my lab classes and I enjoyed every minute of class also I had other photography classes with him. From his crossword puzzles, his jokes he would tell, and just a loving person I will remember him always.
You Will be missed William.

Alicia Hammack

When I first started taking photography classes in 2004, I did not know William Kolberg. I went through my first semester all right, in Fall of ’04 and then my instructor requested that we, my classmates and I, attend the Fall Print Show on Northridge Campus. Now, I had never been on Northridge, my first class was held at Pinnacle, and finding the right building took a while.

I finally found the right building and the right area, for the most part, but I was still a little lost. Luckily for me, William, after seeing me pass his chair for the third or fourth time, decided to take pity on me.

William then introduced himself, in what I later learned was his usual sunny personality. He also took the time to point out different instructors, so that I would not be too lost in my next semester. Now many of my friends have heard this story of a lost soul, but some have not. This story has always been my perfect reminder of how good a person William had proved himself to be, time and time again.

From that moment on I had a friend as well as an instructor. For a gift last year, I gave him a book or two of crossword puzzles. Any who knew him would almost always catch him with some type of puzzle in hand. Some times he would even allow you to help, but not very often.

William was a great friend, a trustworthy confidant, and an extremely patient instructor. Many will miss him, MYSELF included.

William, I know that you are in a better place, probably watching over us and smiling at our mistakes as usual. I miss having you here, to talk to, to correct me, to talk through my problems with, and to laugh at my crazy mistakes. I could probably go on for a really long time. But the main thing I want to say is I MISS YOU.

I just wanted to add an “I’m Sorry!” It felt like if I posted my good-bye, your passing seemed real. I don’t think it has completely hit me yet. So, I’m sorry for being such a coward. Especially for such a good friend.

Your Friend,
Dora A. Guerrero

I met William as a student in his Digital Imaging class. He never wanted to be called Mr. Kolberg,just William, making himself immediately approachable and so open. As students we all felt so comfortable talking to him and asking questions that we all demanded gobs of his attention, critique, and praise, which he was so good at. He had the gift of making us feel comfortable with ourselves, each other and him. William was fun, entertaining, nuturing and very approachable. He gave us so much encouragement, took interest in our lives and shared readily of himself. I felt so at ease with him and got so much encouragement and hope. William is wonderful and is a part of each of us now, with the compassion and playfulness he shared with us. I really miss him. I had more things to tell him, to thank him for with the encouragement he gave and how it changed me.
Thank You William.
Rest in Peace

We have friends all the time that we are close to and love to visit with. We say "let's get together soon and have lunch" and soon doesn't come soon enough. I have known William for over 20 years. I remember when he worked at Holleman's Photo Lab while I worked at Holland Photo lab. William and I lost touch for awhile and them met up again when I returned to ACC, first as a student, and then as an instructor. When I subbed for a Saturday class, we always made time for lunch and a visit with each other. As I walked into his patchouli filled room, William would have one hand on a coffee mug (with a picture of himself draped around it) and a crossword puzzle in the other hand. When we made eye contact, he smiled that William grin and was totally there for my visit. William was such a soft heart, whenever he was with you, he made you feel like you were the most important person in his life. We did have many, many great visits and he always had a kind word to say and a story (always positive) to go along with it. I will miss you, William, and will always have fond memories. Thanks for friendship.

Love,
Carolyn Coffey

I first knew William Kolberg as one of my students in the first class I ever taught at ACC. As a student, William was open to learn whatever I may have been able to teach him; and as a teacher with many years of experience over me, he was gracious. We became buddies in a short time. We taught each other, we enjoyed meals together, and we checked in on each other by phone many evenings and weekends. On his invitation I attended his digital labs where we traded technical information, musical suggestions, opinions, and jokes. Who could not feel comfortable in the presence of William's hearty guffaw? He was a gentle giant. I dare say here in this venue and in front of this audience that I loved the man.

I last saw William in his digital lab on the Friday night before he passed away. We worked until closing time at 10, and I hung with him as he made is slow migration out through the various doors and hallways to leave. I offered to stay with him till he got to his car, but he told me that he had a friend bringing his car around for him to the front of the building and not to bother waiting. He mentioned that he was going to be seeing a doctor on Monday and that he was scared. I said goodbye and went on my way. As I drove out that night, I passed by his van with someone there waiting with him as he rested on a bench. He waved, and I drove by, thinking nothing of it.

Since William's passing away I have missed him very much in lots of ways and at many small moments. I'm glad we were buddies. Today, August 29, 2008, is the day we celebrate William’s memory on what would have been his 60th birthday. Farewell friend.

Jeremy Green

I've known William for about 16 years and I am so sad to know that he has passed. Thank you, Michael, for having this blog for people to write on, and thank you to everyone who has shared their memories and thoughts and feelings here.

I attended William's memorial service today. It was rich with tales of William and photography, teaching, bread, and crosswords. So many times I felt like he was sitting nearby waiting for his turn to tell a story or 3 (William so loved to tell stories). I think the service was perfect, and completely what he would have wanted. So thank you, also, to everyone who attended and who shared or (like me) merely watched and listened.

I don't really have any specific story to share. My relationship with William was too immense for me to find any summary for it. He was like a father to me, and a good good friend, a mentor and advisor, a confidant, and a teacher.

I miss you very much, William. I miss your fantasic home-cooked meals with a double-helping of love in every recipe! I miss your terrible puns (which only ever egged me on to try to top you in lame jokes). I miss your smile so much, and your loud and carefree laughter. I miss the stories you would tell and retell over the years. I miss how strong, open, genuine, and compassionate you were. You've be a great friend and so much more than that, to me and to so many people. Your legacy won't be counted in dollars or balance sheets, but in the endless hearts which are infinitely more full for having known you.

I hope to see your light again one day.

-Christian