Dr. Gregory H. Williams

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved father and husband, Dr. Gregory H. Williams. Greg passed away peacefully on August 12, 2025, at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, New York. He was 81 years old. Greg was a trailblazing university president, acclaimed author, inspiring public speaker, and nationally recognized leader on diversity and education. His life was defined by resilience, family, public service, and a deep commitment to education.

Gregory Howard Williams was born November 12, 1943, to Mary Elizabeth Creasy and James Anthony ‘Buster’ Williams in Muncie, Indiana. As the son of a mixed-race black father and a white mother, race became a defining issue of his childhood and much of his adult life. After a period of turmoil in his family, Greg and his brother were taken in and raised by Miss Dora Weekly Smith who he called his ‘truly mother.’ Greg’s personal story is vividly described in his award-winning autobiographical memoir, Life on The Color Line. The book received the 1995 Los Angeles Times Prize for Book of the Year.

Greg firmly believed in the transformative power of education and dedicated his career to public education. Greg supported everyone he met in their educational aspirations and was a valued mentor to students, colleagues, relatives, and friends in achieving their goals and dreams, always encouraging them to “Think Big!”

Greg earned a B.A. from Ball State University (after supporting himself by working full-time as a deputy sherif), an M.A. in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland, and a J.D. and Ph.D. from George Washington University. During law school, he worked as a government teacher at George Mason Junior-Senior High School (and he would stay close with his students for the following five decades). He later worked as a legislative assistant to Indiana Senator Vance Harkte and as a coordinator for the National Law Center at the George Washington University. In July of 1977, he drove his family across country to the University of Iowa to become a law professor (fulfilling a long-time dream and beginning the foundational years of his career as an academic). At Iowa, Greg became a Full Professor and also served as Dean of Admissions during which time he increased minority enrollment from 2% to 18%, one of his proudest accomplishments.

In 1993, Greg was named Dean of the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. After setting fund raising records and leading OSU law to a top ten public school ranking, Greg was named President of the City College of New York, where he led a renaissance of the College. In 2009, Greg was named President of the University of Cincinnati. He enjoyed the pinnacle of his career by leading a $1 Billion giving campaign and serving on the Executive Committee of the Big East Conference.

Greg spent his semi-retirement years serving on the boards of Urban America (the first African-American controlled commercial real estate investment company to focus on acquiring and developing properties in America’s low to moderate income communities), Franklin Templeton Investments, and Mercy University. At Franklin Templeton, Greg was an independent director of 15 Fund groups. Greg took his commitment to the investors very seriously; he was known to read every word of every fund report. In semi-retirement, he worked tirelessly to pass the first level of the CIAI exam, and he earned an MBA from Mercy University in 2014.

Greg was a sought-after speaker on diversity, leadership, and education. Greg delivered more than 100 speeches at universities and corporations, and he has been interviewed on legal, racial, and academic issues on radio and television programs including: “ABC Nightline,” “Oprah Winfrey Show,” “Terri Gross, Fresh Air,” “NBC Dateline with Tom Brokaw,” and “Larry King Live.”

Greg was a natural athlete and played competitive basketball into his 50s and followed college and professional basketball and football. Throughout his academic career, Greg found ways to stay in the middle of Division I athletics, and he loved to support coaches and athletes who shared his passion and commitment.

Greg loved music and was an excellent dancer. Greg also enjoyed reading and watching British detective novels and shows, and he had a deep love of history.

Above all else, Greg’s greatest joy in life was spending time with his family. When his family needed him, the rest of his life stopped. He was devoted to Sara, his wife of 56 years, and he was honored and blessed to be able to care for her in the later years of their marriage. His children, grandchildren, his siblings, and his many cousins, nieces and nephews brought tremendous happiness and pride to Greg’s life.

Greg was predeceased in death by his parents, James Anthony Williams, Mary Elizabeth Creasy, Miss Dora Weekly Smith, and his beloved brothers Anthony Ricardo Creasy and Jim Johnson. Greg is survived by his wife Sara Whitney Williams, children Natalia (Aaron), Zach, Carlos, Anthony, his grandchildren Elise, Gregory Juan, Scout, and his sister Rita (Bob) Chiles, his brothers Lehman ‘Mike’ Williams and Ken (Mary Elizabeth) Creasy, his lifelong best friend Brian Settles and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and dear cousins.

Greg leaves an enduring legacy of leadership, vision and hope. He was an inspiration and touched so many lives. Greg will be missed and loved by all of us forever.

Visitation will be at Coffey Funeral Home on August 22, 2025 followed by interment in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, followed by a luncheon in honor of Greg at Half Moon in Dobbs Ferry. A Celebration of Life will be planned in the fall. All are welcome to attend.

 "Memorial donations may be made in honor of Greg to the Sara Whitney Williams Scholarship at Mercy University.  www.mercy.edu/williams"