Our good friend and fellow Bordenite, William F. Schley-Ulrich passed away on September 27, 2009. He was 90 years, 7 months, and 3 days old.
Born in 1919, William was a regular contributor to the old Lizzie Borden Quarterly and penned a few major pieces for The Hatchet as well. Bill also was a regular on the Lizzie Borden Society Forum (421 Posts), and would often send me material in the mail on the Borden case. Before he passed away he wrote me and several close friends that he was soon to go and wished to say goodbye.
He was particularly interested in Nance O’Neil and did an extensive study of her films for The Hatchet. He also penned a great work on the books that we know to have been in Lizzie’s library, and what her reading habits must have been like based on these titles.
Bill had lost his lovely wife Marjorie a few years ago and mourned her passing each and every day. She was his angel. They were married for over 60 years and he kept referring to her as his “bride.”
Bill was a true gentleman and a scholar. He will be greatly missed.
This information was passed onto me by Sherry Chapman, one of the FriendsFour.
Here is Bill’s avatar from the Lizzie Borden Society Forum. I think I will always remember him as this Victorian St. Nicholas.
