Bill Whitman (Staff)

Dec. 19, 2012

I am very sad to report that Bill Whitman died yesterday (Dec. 19, 2012) at the age of 95.  Bill was Deputy Director, Peace Corps/Turkey 1964-65, and Director, Peace Corps/Libya after that.  He is survived by his wife of sixty seven years, Doris, of Alexandria, VA.

Bill taught for many years at Robert College in Istanbul after graduating from Harvard in 1939 and serving during the war in the RAF.  His knowledge and understanding of Turkey and its culture were unparalleled.He and Doris have been good friends of Pat and mine,  and we will miss him greatly.
                                                                            Dave W.


The Washington Post  Published: December 21, 2012

Willard M. Whitman Jr., 95, a former English professor who ran a personnel agency in Washington for more than a decade, died Dec. 19 at his home in Alexandria.

He had heart ailments, said his daughter Jean Heimer.

Willard Mallalieu Whitman Jr. was born in Lynn, Mass. He received a bachelor’s degree in English from Harvard University in 1939 and a master’s degree in English literature and Shakespeare studies from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1947.

Beginning in the late 1930s, he taught English at Robert College of Istanbul. During World War II, he joined the British Royal Air Force and served as a flying instructor in Africa, his daughter said.

He returned to Robert College after the war and became a vice president in 1956. In 1960, he moved back to the United States and taught English at the old Bennett College in Millbrook, N.Y. He later oversaw Peace Corps programs in Turkey, Pakistan and Libya.

In 1969, he and his wife founded Whitman Associates, a Washington-based temporary and permanent staffing agency. He retired in 1983.

Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Doris Clark Whitman of Alexandria; two daughters, Jean Heimer of Hagerstown, Md., and Doreen McGill of Walkersville; a sister; and five grandchildren.


Willard Mallalieu ‘Bill’ Whitman Jr.

Our colleague and friend, Willard “Bill” Whitman passed away on December 19, 2012, at his home in Alexandria, Virginia. Bill was 95 and suffered from heart ailments.  He is survived by Doris Clark Whitman, his wife of 67 years and his two daughters, Jean Heimer, and Doreen McGill; a sister; and five grandchildren.

Many of us will remember Bill as the director of training for PCV English Teachers at Robert College in 1964 and subsequently of Turkey-9, the CD program which trained at Yalincak village on the campus of the new Middle East Technical University outside Ankara in 1965. This was one of the initial Peace Corps experiments at “in-country” training of its new volunteers.  It proved to be a unique and valuable experience for the Trainees, Turkish staff and American staff.  Peace Corps Volunteers then serving in Turkey were involved in the training activities which proved particularly valuable! 

Bill was later named Deputy Director of Peace Corps in Turkey. In 1966 he moved to Pakistan with Peace Corps and was subsequently made Peace Corps Director in Libya.

Willard Mallalieu Whitman Jr. was born in Lynn , Mass. He received a bachelor’s degree in English from Harvard University in 1939 and a master’s degree in English literature and Shakespeare studies from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1947.  Beginning in the late 1930s, he taught English at Robert College of Istanbul.

In World War II, he joined the British Royal Air Force and served as a flying instructor in Africa.  He returned to Robert College after the war and became a vice president in 1956. In 1960, he moved back to the United States and taught English at Bennett College in Millbrook , N.Y.  After his work with Peace Corps in Turkey, he was named Peace Corps Director of programs in Pakistan and Libya .

Bill and Doris founded Whitman Associates in 1969, a Washington-based staffing agency. He retired in 1983.  Bill and Doris remained active in “Friends of Turkey” activities in the Washington area.  

Peace Corps alumnae regard Bill and Doris with deep affection and great respect.  Bill will be missed!  A memorial is planned for the Spring [of 2013].  
                                                           — from the Peace Corps Office


My most endearing memory of Bill and Doris was when I saw them in Istanbul, Turkey, a number of years ago, staying at what I am sure was their favorite Sari Konak Hotel below the Arasta Bazaar. When they weren’t going to lunch and dinner with friends, they used to go to the upstairs terrace and play their board games and read. 

One couple we ran into talked about their love of Turkey and hope that they would be returning to Turkey just as the elderly couple they had seen walking the Sultan Ahmet streets, hand in hand with an umbrella for the weather or walking stability. Friends and I knew exactly whom they were talking about and told them about the couple.

Doris and Bill were a wonderfully matched couple with mutual love and respect always evident. They truly loved Turkey, their time there and in all the other counties that were privileged to have them.
–Margaret Hamill Patterson (T-4)


It sounds like Mr. Whitman had  a fulfilling life. I also send wishes that he rest in Peace for a job well done.  — Pat Lowther (T-2)

Association of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and Friends of Turkey