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Bill Pittman 1947 ~ 2007
Dear Friends:
It is with great sadness that we share the news that William L. Pittman died
suddenly on Friday, November 9, 2007 at his home in Center City, Minnesota.
He was 60 years old.
Preceded in death by parents Marilyn and William. Survived by brother Mark
(Nancy) Pittman, sister Mary (Tom) Legeros; nephews Matt (Kris) Pittman,
Brad Pittman and Taylor Legeros; cherished aunt Eudora (Dot) Jenkins; Cousin
Joe (Carol) Jenkins, Katherine Jenkins; Uncle William (Ardiss) Rendell;
Cindy Rendell. Bill was a beloved brother, uncle, nephew, cousin and friend.
Raised in Saint Paul, Bill graduated with honors from the University of
Minnesota and held advanced degrees from UMass Boston and NYU in applied
sociology and archival methods. For the past 28 years he was an historian,
author and publisher of over 15 books about AA recovery and alcoholism. Bill
was an advocate of Alcoholics Anonymous and The Twelve Step Community. Early
in his career he worked for the AA Grapevine and the AA Archives at the
headquarters in New York City. After that, he helped to found Glenn Abbey
Books in Seattle, Washington, which published books about recovery from
alcoholism including some of his first books:
"Stepping Stones to Recovery," by Bill Pittman, (Seattle, Washington: Glen
Abbey Books, 1988)
"The 12 Step Prayer Book" by Anonymous, (Seattle, Washington: Glen Abbey
Books, 1990)
"Beware the First Drink! The Washingtonian Temperance Movement and
Alcoholics Anonymous" by Leonard U. Blumberg with William L. Pittman,
(Seattle, Washington: Glen Abbey Books, 1991)
He was co-author with Charlie Bishop Jr. of "To Be Continued" The Alcoholics
Anonymous World Bibliography 1935-1994" in two editions in 1989 and 1994.
Bill returned to Minnesota in the early 1990's and in 1993 founded the
Hazelden-Pittman Archives, a major repository of historic pamphlets, books,
tracts and other materials on alcoholism dating back to 1790. During the 10
years he was with Hazelden, he founded the Hazelden-Pittman Archives Press
and was instrumental in the publication of many books about AA pioneers. He
also worked as their Director of Historical Information. Charlie Bishop Jr.
recalled that he left Hazelden "to go fishing".
Among the many other books Pittman wrote and co-authored are: "AA The Way It
Began," Bill Pittman, Seattle, Washington: Glen Abbey Books, 1988; reissued
eleven years later as "The Roots of Alcoholics Anonymous" (Center City,
Minnesota: Hazelden, 1999)
"AA The Way It Began" started out as a thesis he wrote for his B.S. degree
in Alcohol Studies and Alcoholism Counseling at the University of Minnesota
(June 1983), entitled "Alternative Explanations for the Beginnings of
Alcoholics Anonymous, 1934-1939." He was around 36 at the time. This was at
the beginning of his career as an author (and later publisher) of books on
AA history. Nell Wing and Ernest Kurtz both helped Bill in the revision of
this thesis as he was turning it into a book.
"Drop the Rock: Removing Character Defects," by Bill Pittman and Todd Weber,
(Seattle, Washington: Glen Abbey Books, 1993)
Among the books he published by other authors through the Hazelden-Pittman
Archives Press were:
"Women Pioneers in 12 Step Recovery," by Charlotte Hunter, Billye Jones, and
Joan Zieger, 1999
"Key Principles of Successful Recovery: The Basic Tools for Progress,
Growth, and Happiness," by Mel B. and Bill P., 1999
"The Soul of Sponsorship: The Friendship of Fr. Ed Dowling, S.J., and Bill
Wilson in Letters," by Robert Fitzgerald, S.J., 1995
"Courage to Change: The Christian Roots of the Twelve-Step Movement",
Compiled and edited by Bill Pittman and Dick B. 1994
There would have been no way that a great number of major books on AA
history could have gotten published -- and none of us would even have known
about these discoveries, and the fascinating material they uncovered --
without Bill's efforts.
"My Search For Bill W." By Mel B. (Hazelden-Pittman 2000)
The reprint of the 1933 Oxford Group book titled "What is the Oxford Group"
and the modern interpretation called "Practice these Principles".
(Hazelden-Pittman 1997)
"The Little Red Book Study Guide" by Bill P. (Hazelden-Pittman 1998)
"Harry Tiebout: The Collected Writings" Authors: Bill Pittman, Damian
McElrath, Harry Tiebout (Hazelden-Pittman 1999)
"Ebby: The Man Who Sponsored Bill W." By Mel B. (Hazelden-Pittman 1998)
"Silkworth: The Little Doctor Who Loved Drunks" By Dale Mitchel
(Hazelden-Pittman 2002)
Bill enjoyed fishing immensely. Often he would sit on the deck of his home
overlooking a lake and watch the eagles fishing. He had two cats, "King" and
"Princess," and lots of bird feeders. The cats lost out every time.
As a historian he visited the International Convention of Alcoholics
Anonymous in 1990 in Seattle. At the big Sunday spiritual meeting with about
48,000 in the King Dome, he wryly remarked to a friend "pretty big meeting,
maybe they should split it up."
He was passionate about uncovering, collecting, writing, preserving and
passing on the history of Alcoholics Anonymous since August 14, 1979.
His work for the history of AA took him across the United States making good
friends along the way in Seattle, California, Ohio, Louisiana, Arkansas,
North Carolina, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Florida, New York City,
Massachusetts and Vermont. He also leaves behind many dear friends in Saint
Paul, Lindstrom and Center City.
Bill left his urban beginnings behind and spent recent years enjoying the
rural countryside. He loved the peacefulness at his home in the woods. He
was an avid fisherman and bird watcher. Many will remember his unique sense
of humor. Billy was a gentle soul. We like to think that he's just "gone
fishin."
Bill Pittman
William Pittman died November 9, 2007, at his
home in Minnesota of an apparent heart attack.
He was selling his home there and when he
failed to show up for the closing Friday,
police were called to check and found him.
Bill Pittman, 60, for the past 28 years was
an historian, author, and publisher of numerous
books about A.A., recovery and alcoholism and
worked tirelessly in that field. Pittman was
an loyal advocate of Alcoholics Anonymous and
The Twelve Step community.
Bill had worked for the AA Grapevine, the
Fellowship’s monthly magazine, and the A.A.
Archives for five years in New York City.
After that he helped to found Glen Abbey Books
in Seattle, Washington, which published books
about recovery from alcoholism.
Then Bill moved to Minnesota where he founded
the Hazelden-Pittman Archives Press and was
instrumental in the publication of many books
about A.A. pioneers. He was a key employee
of the Hazelden Foundation for about ten years.
Several years ago he left Hazelden "to go
fishing" as his friend Charlie Bishop, Jr.,
of Wheeling, WV, recalled.
He was co-author with Bishop of "To Be
Continued … The Alcoholics Anonymous World
Bibliography 1935-1994" in two editions.
Among the many other books Pittman wrote are:
Leonard Blumber with Bill Pittman, "Beware the
First Drink! The Washingtonian Temperance
Movement and Alcoholics Anonymous" (Seattle,
Washington: Glen Abbey Books, 1991).
Bill Pittman, "AA The Way It Began," (Seattle,
Washington: Glen Abbey Books, 1988; reissued
eleven years later as "The Roots of Alcoholics
Anonymous" (Center City, Minnesota: Hazelden,
1999).
Bill Pittman, "Stepping Stones to Recovery,"
(Seattle, Washington: Glen Abbey Books, 1988.
Bill Pittman and Todd Weber, "Drop the Rock:
Removing Character Defects," (Seattle,
Washington: Glen Abbey Books, 1993.
Among the many books by other authors which he
published through the Hazelden-Pittman Archives
Press were:
"Women Pioneers in 12 Step Recovery," by
Charlotte Hunter, Billye Jones, and Joan
Zieger, 1999.
"Key Principles of Successful Recovery: The
Basic Tools for Progress, Growth, and Happi-
ness," by Mel B. and Bill P., 1999.
Robert Fitzgerald, S.J., "The Soul of Sponsor-
ship: The Friendship of Fr. Ed Dowling, S.J.,
and Bill Wilson in Letters," 1995.
Funeral arrangements are being worked out.
His sister and brother-in-law will be phoning
in an obituary to the Pioneer Press and the
Star Tribune, two Minnesota newspapers in the
Minneapolis/Center City/Edina area tomorrow
morning.
From Charlie Bishop, Jr.
<bishopbk@...>
(bishopbk at comcast.net)
- - - -
Bill's book "AA The Way It Began," later
retitled "The Roots of Alcoholics Anonymous,"
started out as a thesis he wrote for his B.S.
degree in Alcohol Studies and Alcoholism
Counseling at the University of Minnesota
(June 1983), entitled "Alternative Explana-
tions for the Beginnings of Alcoholics
Anonymous, 1934-1939." He was around 36 at
the time. This was at the beginning of his
career as an author (and later publisher) of
books on AA history. Nell Wing and Ernest
Kurtz both helped Bill in the revision of
this thesis as he was turning it into a book.
There would have been no way that a great
number of major books on AA history could
have gotten published -- and none of us
would even have known about these discoveries,
and the fascinating material they uncovered --
without Bill's efforts.
G.C. |