In Memoriam: William Nichols, Professor Emeritus of Accountancy

William Nichols

William “Bill” Donald Nichols, professor emeritus of accountancy at the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business, passed away on October 13 at the age of 79.

A resident of Niles, Michigan, Nichols is survived by wife Diane, son Ben Nichols, daughter Lisa Reinke and grandchildren Will, Steph, Hattie and Jack.

Nichols joined Notre Dame in 1977 and served in many roles over his four decades at the University, including associate dean for graduate programs and associate dean for faculty and research. He retired in 2017, leaving a lasting legacy at Mendoza as a humble and dedicated teacher, scholar and administrator.

“Bill was truly a saint on earth. He put everybody first. Whatever he could do for others, he would,” said Carolyn Woo, former dean of the Mendoza College of Business. “He loved teaching and made a point of attending his students’ extracurricular activities to celebrate their gifts and talents. Bill was completely devoted to his wife Diane, whom he met in grade school. For all who worked with Bill, we lost not only a colleague, but a brother.”

Bill Nichols

After his retirement, Nichols served as faculty advisor for the Meyer Business on the Frontlines program from 2014-2018, traveling with teams of Notre Dame MBA students across the globe.

“Bill Nichols embodied the best of our profession — a dedicated teacher and scholar who served others with deep humility, steadfast dedication and a warm sense of humor that lifted everyone around him,” said Brad Badertscher, the Deloitte Foundation Department Chair of Accountancy.

In the 2017 Mendoza Business magazine, Nichols, a native of Battle Creek, Michigan, reflected on his career at the time of his retirement: “I’m an accountant. I work with numbers. But every time I feel great joy or distress, it is all because of people. Every person has a story. With students or faculty or staff, you have to remember to try to figure out who they are and appreciate and respect their views.”

A memorial Mass will be celebrated by Father Paul Doyle, C.S.C., at 5:30 p.m. EST on November 13 in the Chapel of St. Anne in Ryan Hall on the Notre Dame campus. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Friends of the St. Joe River.