William Anthony Gamson died on March 23 in Brookline. He was 87.
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Bill was educated at Antioch College and the University of Michigan and taught at Harvard, University of Michigan and Boston College.
He and his wife Zelda began coming to the Vineyard in the summer of 1966 from Ann Arbor, Mich., renting various houses in Chilmark. They bought land in 1975 on what is now called Boston Hill Road, completed their house in 1981 and commuted between the Island and their Boston jobs until their retirement.
He served on the board of the Chilmark library as treasurer and managed the Boston Hill road association. He loved sailing his sunfish, paddling his Poke boat, body surfing and showing the Vineyard to visitors from around the world.
He will be remembered for his distinguished career as a values-driven sociologist of social movements and media; the many influential books and articles he wrote; the simulation games he invented, including SIMSOC; his creation of a fantasy baseball league that became the seed for the fantasy sports industry; the generations of students he mentored; his passion for fomenting social change, collaborating and dancing; and his love for and pride in his family.
He is survived by his wife and partner of 65 years, Zelda Finkelstein Gamson; his sister Mary Edda Gamson of Oakland, Calif.; his daughter Jennifer and son-in-law Steve of Newton; his son Joshua and son-in-law Richard of Oakland; and grandchildren Gilad, Ari, Maya, Reba and Madeleine.
Condolences may be sent to: Zelda Gamson, 1501 Beacon Street, Apt. 601, Brookline, Mass. 02446.
Donations in his memory can be made to: ACLU of MA, 211 Congress Street, Boston MA, 02110; National Resources Defense Council, P.O. Box 1830, Merrifield, VA 22116; or Southern Poverty Law Center, 400 Washington Avenue, Montgomery, AL 36104.
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