In Memoriam: William Meinhofer, Founding Director of Community-Based Learning

Dr. William Meinhofer, founding director of the Donelan Office of Community-Based Learning at the College of the Holy Cross, passed away on Jan. 3 in Boston. He had been undergoing treatment for cancer. He was 60.

Dr. Meinhofer was recruited to the faculty of Holy Cross in 2001, following a nationwide search for a director with the special blend of skills it would take to establish a new program in community-based learning at Holy Cross. His hard work and good humor quickly won him many friends and the program he created has set high standards for peer schools to aspire to. Through his work with numerous community agencies, Dr. Meinhofer also significantly improved relations between the College and the city of Worcester.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Bill Meinhofer, as much for who he was as for what he did. He was a great friend to many, always caring, upbeat and generous. He deserves all the credit for building our very successful community-based learning program from a handful of courses to about 90 courses involving some 850 students each year. He also made major contributions to many of our other community involvements. There is no way to express adequately how much Bill Meinhofer meant to Holy Cross,” said Rev. Michael C. McFarland, S.J., president.

From his desk at Holy Cross, Dr. Meinhofer worked with faculty, students, and community and public service organizations in Worcester to facilitate community-based learning courses across the College curriculum. Since he first began promoting community-based courses on the campus, more than 20 percent of the faculty have taught courses in his program, and almost 25 percent of Holy Cross students are involved in community projects through these courses each year.

Among the local organizations participating in the College’s Community-Based Learning courses are: AIDS Project Worcester, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Massachusetts, Boys & Girls Club of Worcester, Massachusetts Audubon Society, and the Henry Lee Willis Community Center.

“Bill was the heart of Holy Cross’ relationships with the community,” said Richard Matlak, director of the Center for Interdisciplinary and Special Studies, which houses the Donelan Office of Community-Based Learning.

Dr. Meinhofer taught several courses himself, among them: Introduction to Community Organizing; Latinos in the United States; and Special Projects in Community and Urban Studies.

He was a 1994 graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Boston and received his Ph.D. in sociology from Boston College in 2001.

Dr. Meinhofer was a member of the Boards of Directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Massachusetts, the Worcester Working Coalition for Latino Students, and the Henry Lee Willis Community Center. He was also founding chairperson of the Community Engagement Committee of the Colleges of Worcester Consortium.

From 6 to 9 p.m. on Jan. 5, visitation will be held at the P.E. Murray Funeral Home, 2000 Centre Street, West Roxbury, Mass. 02132. At 10 a.m. on Jan. 6, a service will be held at the funeral home, to be followed by interment at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, West Roxbury.

A memorial service will be held on campus. Details are forthcoming.