Will Schutz, 1925 - 2002

Will was a man of many facets and of great accomplishment. He is remembered throughout the world by so many whose lives he touched personally and professionally. He was a scientist with a brilliant mind and a father, lover and friend with a gentle soul and generous spirit.

He was also a simple man, in his own words a "Jew boy from Chicago." He is remembered by those closest to him as he consumed hotdogs and garlic fries with mustard stained hands gripping a scorecard, not once taking his eyes off the team he loved for so long. He lived for handball, to rhythmically move his body to the Benny Goodman orchestra, for openness and choice, and to bring his work on FIRO, Encounter and The Human Element to the people throughout the United States and the world.

Beyond his immediate family so many people remember him for a life changing experience -- in encounter at Esalen, in time spent with him in a workshop in organizations all over the world, and through teaching and learning his transforming Human Element approach to individual, team and organization development. His comical expressions and insightful humor were always a reminder of life's joys and surprises.

He was born in Chicago on December 19, 1025. He served on the faculties of Harvard University, UC Berkeley, Antioch University - San Francisco, The University of Chicago, Einstein Medical School and others.
During his time in the Navy he developed the FIRO-B questionnaire which is internationally known as one of the most widely used instruments in the field. In his life, Will wrote eight books including the best selling "Joy" in 1967, "Here Comes Everybody" in 1971, "Profound Simplicity" in 1979, "The Truth Option" in 1984, and "The Human Element" in 1994.
by Rhonda Parkyns, Rosa Walden

Cartoons by Will Shutz

It is hard for me to put into words who my father was to me. When I try to define him I become immersed in a barrage of memories. The cool breeze off McCovey cove as he dug heartily into an order of garlic fries not once taking his eyes off the team he loved for so long. Mustard stained hands gripping a scorecard. His eyes lighting up, shooting to the field as the ball was hit deep. The joking manner in which we played catch. The fast pitch the phantom catch. The post pattern around the pool table. A diving catch into the bed. Him dragging me out of bed when I was sick to play handball. "It sweats out the goop." His rich voice and language. The rhythmic movement of his body as the Benny Goodman orchestra belted through "Sing, Sing, Sing." His rubber face and comical expressions. His face in the crowd of all my plays. "Nothing weird." Yeah Dad, nothin' weird.
by Ari Schutz