The world lost William ("Bill") Alexander McCollom early in the morning of June 29, 2020, his heart giving way as he slept at his home in Hartland, VT. A writer, school administrator, teacher, coach, and so much more during his time, he viewed his life as a series of new adventures. He was a man of perpetual motion, and, while he always enjoyed his solitary time on his mower on the farm he shared with his wife Karen, he was a fixture at local ski mountains, tennis courts, bike trails, on theater stages, and in various local organizations. He held so much love in that faulty heart, for his family, for the many lifelong friends he made, and for life in general.

Born in Orange, New Jersey, September 13, 1946, Bill moved to Vermont at the age of 7 with his father Alexander Ewing McCollom, mother Constance Knight McCollom, and sisters Anne McCollom Hennessey and Marion McCollom Hampton, eventually settling in South Woodstock. There he developed his love of adventure, the outdoors, and the Vermont landscape. He recalled a youth of rope swings, reckless biking on dirt roads, and sledding with his sisters. He learned to ski on the rope tow at Suicide Six, and the sport of skiing would play a central role throughout his life. He attended school in Woodstock before finishing his high school career at Holderness School in Holderness, NH ('64). He continued his academic path at Middlebury College ('68), where he studied Geography, was an All-American ski racer, and also played on the lacrosse team.

His professional career began with a teaching position at Kennett High School in North Conway, NH, and a coaching position at Harvard University. He then transitioned to a teaching position at the White Mountain School in Bethlehem, NH, before a move back to Vermont. He met his wife Karen Swenson at a ski race at the Middlebury College Snow Bowl, and the two married in 1974. Shortly thereafter, they landed in Barnard, where Bill built a house and barn with the help of friends. Here Bill and Karen would stay for 44 years, raising their son Eric and eventually carving out a professional horse farm from an abandoned sidehill orchard. In 2018, Bill and Karen moved to the hills of Hartland and created a new farm, a place of great beauty and joy for them both.

Bill was part of the founding of what would become Killington Mountain School, first working as Academic Coordinator in the 70s, and then, after a stint as Executive Director of Vermont Alpine Racing Association (VARA), returning as Head of School at KMS from 1987 - 1998, a period when the school produced numerous Olympians and collegiate skiers. He loved his work with the students. After departing KMS, Bill eagerly took on a new professional adventure, this time as a contributing writer and editor at Ski Racing magazine. He worked for the publication for 15 years, penning over 300 original columns, many of which he compiled into his book, titled The View From the Finish Line. In 2011, he was inducted into the VARA Hall of Fame, and he was awarded the Paul Robbins Journalism Award from the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum in 2011.

Bill cared deeply about his professional life, but his jobs never defined him. To list his interests and hobbies would fill the day's paper. If it involved the thrill of motion, he would try it: motocross racing, demolition derby, kayaking, sailboarding, mountaineering, heliskiing, and mountain biking. Slower pursuits like tennis, golf, hiking, stone wall reconstruction, long walks with his eclectic collection of dogs, and marathon meals were always quite alright too. He loved music as well and performed regularly in community musicals.

Besides cucumbers, which he hated, there were few things Bill would say no to. An avid ski racer into his 70s, he rarely missed a race on the New England Masters circuit and filled his home with roughly 1,593 mugs and glasses as awards. He was an instrumental facilitator for the New England Masters, a role he relished. He served as head of the Barnard school board for a time, helping the town renovate and expand the old schoolhouse. Bill was also instrumental in local work with the Vermont Land Trust, including the preservation and renovation of Gilbert's Hill, site of the first ski tow in the country. In 2007, he found himself the head coach of the alpine ski team at Woodstock Union High School and shared his love for skiing and the outdoors with yet another generation of students. He earned five state titles in that role and continued to volunteer as an assistant at WUHS through his final winter.

He is survived by his wife Karen; his son Eric (wife Kristie Gonzalez); his two sisters, Anne Hennessey (husband Ray Hennessey and son Nathaniel Emmons) and Marion McCollom Hampton (daughter Sarah Hampton); and his two best playmates of all, his grandsons William (Liam) and Andrew McCollom. Due to the pandemic, a private memorial service will be held, and a larger celebration of life will occur in the future. Written recollections or photos are welcomed on the Cabot Funeral Home website ( www.cabotfh.com ). In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Vermont Land Trust, Woodstock Ski Runners, Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society, or Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum.

Bill had an uncanny knack for crafting long-lasting friendships at every stop in his rich and full time on this earth, and he will be sorely missed by so many. He left us all too soon, but he leaves a long legacy of joyful living that will never be forgotten.