William J. Wasmuth

William J. Wasmuth passed away at Bridges Cornell Heights on Thursday, March 29, 2018. He was 93 years old. He was born February 6, 1925 in St. Louis, Missouri. He graduated with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering, and pursued a Master's degree in Business Administration at Washington University. After working in management in St. Louis, he pursued his doctoral degree in Business Administration at Indiana University. Upon graduating, he became professor at the Industrial Labor Relations department (ILR) at Cornell University, where he remained for forty-eight years.
In addition to teaching management courses at both ILR and the School of Hotel Administration, he authored numerous journal articles and books on best management practices, which include Dynamics of Supervision: Organizational Cases and Intrigues. William was also active in conducting workshops outside of the classroom. In particular, his 1977 project on Management Organization Simulation: An Innovation Challenge (MOSAIC) for vocational rehabilitation facilitation led to his partnership with Stan Davis and ultimately, the development of Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Management Strategic Simulation (CHARMSS). Through CHARMSS, he conducted hotel management training in over 15 countries across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia for over 20 years with his wife, Norma.
In addition to his academic career, he was known for his wisdom, sense of humor, and devotion to his family. Having enthusiastic support for his children and grandchildren, he encouraged them to pursue their dreams, and often provided the means to do so with a willing spirit.
William was predeceased by his sister Betty. He is survived by his wife Norma; children: Craig, Scott, and Toni; daughter-in-law Victorina, son-in-law Everett, grandchildren: Elizabeth, Christine, Abigail, Sara and Jennifer.
His family welcomes friends, colleagues, and former students for visitation on April 14, 2018 from 2:00 to 3:30 PM at Bangs Funeral Home at 205 W Green St., Ithaca, NY.