In Memoriam: Yow-Wu Bill Wu

Marsha Lewis.

Published April 30, 2021

Yow-Wu Bill Wu, longtime School of Nursing faculty member, died on March 30, 2021, surrounded by loved ones.

Wu joined the University at Buffalo in 1986 as the director of the Academic Computing Laboratory and joined the School of Nursing as a clinical assistant professor in 1987. He was a highly regarded expert in research methodology and applied statistics in behavioral health and nursing science.

A treasured member of the School of Nursing for 32 years, his colleagues and students fondly remember him for his patience, kindness and optimistic spirit.

“Bill was a valued colleague, mentor, educator, and most importantly, a friend to many of us,” says Yu-Ping Chang, associate dean for research and scholarship in the School of nursing. “He was always one to show kindness and compassion to co-workers, students and friends – words can hardly begin to express how much he will be missed.”

Colleagues and friends describe him as immensely supportive, exceptionally brilliant, kind and considerate, with a genuine smile. Many have expressed how blessed they are to have had him as an educator and mentor in their life; his international students, in particular, expressed love and gratitude for his guidance, and for being welcomed to Buffalo as if part of Wu’s family.

“Bill’s generosity of self, his love, wisdom, and kindness lives within every person he has touched,” says Chang.

Wu received a PhD in educational psychology from the University at Buffalo; an MS in remedial reading from the University of Wisconsin; and an MA in education (exceptional children) and a BA in education from National Taiwan University.