We are so sad to announce the death of William A. Aiello on October 1, 2019 in Vancouver, BC. Bill died at 59 after a courageous battle with cancer. Born October 21, 1959 in Covina, CA to Jean and Frank Aiello, Bill was a 1977 graduate of San Marcos High School in Santa Barbara, CA. He graduated in 1981 from Stanford University with a B.S. in Physics and in 1988 from MIT with a Ph.D. in Applied Math. Following positions at Bell Communications Research and AT&T Research Labs in New Jersey, Bill moved with his family to Vancouver in 2004 to become Head of the Department of Computer Science at the University of British Columbia, where he served until 2010. He also helped develop the Academic Leadership Development Program (ALDP) at UBC, a program designed to help incoming academic administrators develop expertise and confidence in their new roles.
Bill had a deep sense of curiosity about the world and a passion for understanding how it worked. He loved physics and mathematics but was also a student of U.S. history and an avid follower of U.S. politics and government. He loved music, traveling, hiking and camping, modern dance, film, and most British detective TV shows. He deeply loved his family and friends. Bill is survived by his wife and partner of 36 years, Karen Parrish; children Sam Aiello and Juliana Aiello; father Frank Aiello; uncle Arthur Aiello; aunt Barbara O’Reilly; sisters Carla Aiello, Carolyn Aiello O’Connor (Terry) and Kathleen Aiello; brother Ken Aiello (Cati); cousins Robert Aiello (Cindy), Michael Aiello, Laura Popp, (John), Sam Aiello (Hildie), Carla Aiello, Lisa McMullen (Ron), Joe Aiello (Glenda), Kevin O’Reilly (Cathy), Kirk O’Reilly (Carol), and Tara O’Reilly; mother-in-law Martha Parrish; sister-in-law Cindy Parrish (Jonathan Post); brother-in-law Patrick Parrish (Irene); beloved nieces Melissa Aiello (Stephanie Smith), Natalie Aiello, Emma Post, Fiona Post, and Lindsey Parrish; numerous other dearly-loved family members and friends. We are stunned by his loss and uplifted by his love and his life.
Services in celebration of Bill will be held at dates to be determined in Vancouver and Santa Barbara. In lieu of flowers, we ask that contributions be made to 350.org, Oil Change International, or the Environmental Defense Fund.