The UC family lost one of its greatest servants and champions with the July 15 passing of Bill Mulvihill, Bus ’70. For more than a quarter of UC’s 206-year existence, his life’s work, generous philanthropy and extraordinary passion were focused on his beloved alma mater.
For me, this loss hits particularly hard. A university is largely about relationships, and I had a deeply personal connection to Bill. He and my mother, Carol Heisey (née Eilberg), DAAP '70, were classmates and close friends, serving together in numerous student organizations. When I chose to attend UC in 1992, Bill was the first person she introduced me to. She asked him to “look out for me,” and he did. Bill would become a constant presence in my life, offering ongoing guidance and support from the variety of roles he held through the years.
Eventually, I worked for Bill at the UC Foundation and Alumni Association. He had high expectations and led with purpose and integrity. His deep commitment to UC was evident in everything he did, and he inspired our team to aim higher and achieve more. Even in retirement, he remained quick to share encouragement, committed to advancing our engagement and philanthropic efforts, and eager to stay connected to all things UC.
Bill was also a living history of UC — the people, places, stories and connections. He carried our institutional memory with care and pride, freely sharing that knowledge to strengthen the UC community. As a result, it seemed that in my UC-related travels someone would invariably ask me, “Do you know Bill Mulvihill?” and I was always proud to say, “Yes.”
Like so many with their own connections to Bill, I’ll miss his UC spirit, his friendship and his wise counsel. He often reminded those around him that as important as individual people and projects might be in the moment, the university’s well-being was always paramount. “At all times let our motto be: Stand first and last for old UC.” We’re all fortunate that Bill Mulvihill was such a devoted Bearcat, and his impact will be felt for generations to come.
Juncta Juvant,
