The Passing of Dr. William “Bill” Giddings
We are saddened to share the news that Professor Emeritus of Chemistry Dr. William “Bill” Paul Giddings passed away on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at the age of 93. A foundational figure in our scientific community, Bill dedicated 36 years of his life to teaching, leadership, and service at Pacific Lutheran University.
Bill joined PLU’s chemistry department in 1962 and throughout his nearly four decades on campus, he served multiple times as chair of the department and as chair of the Division of Natural Sciences. His structural legacy remains palpable across campus; he was instrumental in the design and funding of the Rieke Science Center, serving as the project chair for the faculty committee.
A true champion of expanding global and inclusive horizons, Bill took the first group of PLU science majors to study abroad in China, helped hire the university’s first women science faculty, and designed and taught foundational general and organic chemistry courses. He was also proud to be among the PLU faculty members who greeted John F. Kennedy on a presidential campaign stop at Cheney Stadium.
Outside of his distinguished chemistry career, Bill lived a rich life centered around music, languages, and deep community devotion. Having mastered the organ, choral singing, and choral conducting during his collegiate and graduate years at DePauw and Harvard, he served as a church organist or substitute for numerous Lutheran and Episcopal churches in Tacoma, with his longest tenure at Luther Memorial Church. For 53 years, he sang in the Compline Choir at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Seattle nearly every Sunday night, and lent his voice to the PLU Choral Union’s regular and tour choirs.
Bill also pursued the study of foreign languages with passion. He was fluent in German and French, and achieved comprehension in Latin, Russian, Mandarin, Greek, Italian, Spanish, and Norwegian—frequently delighting friends and colleagues with puns across multiple languages. Following his retirement, Bill became an iconic figure in Pierce County public activism, volunteering his time on many local boards and commissions, including the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, the Parkland Community Association, and the Pierce County Planning Commission.
We hold Bill’s wife, Rochelle (Roxy) Joan Sherman Giddings, his family, and all who knew him in our thoughts and prayers.
You can read Bill’s full obituary or leave a message for his family here: https://neptunesociety.com/obituaries/tacoma-wa/william-giddings-12883105
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