Northeastern Illinois University announced on March 31 the passing of William Lester “Bill” Howenstine, Ph.D., who died on Jan. 23 at the age of 100.
Howenstine’s death marks the loss of a long-serving member of the university community and a significant contributor to environmental preservation efforts. He joined Northeastern in 1961 and served in various roles within the College of Arts and Sciences and University Administration, including as a professor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies and as Dean of Students. He retired in 2010 after more than four decades with the institution.
An active environmentalist, Howenstine helped found several organizations dedicated to protecting natural areas. He was one of the founders of the McHenry County Conservation District (MCCD), where he served twice as Board President. MCCD has preserved over 25,000 acres to date. He also contributed to forming the Illinois Association of Conservation Districts and was a founding board member for what is now known as the Land Conservancy of McHenry County.
Howenstine and his late wife, Alice, were members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) and participated in service projects in Mexico and Peru. Their dedication earned them recognition such as a joint Peace and Justice Award at Woodstock’s Diversity Day festival in 2007, a Lifetime Achievement Award from Environmental Defenders of McHenry County in 2010, as well as individual honors for Howenstine like the George and Barbara Fell Award from National Land Institute in 2009 and being among MCCD’s first Conservation Champion Award recipients in 2019.
He is survived by his children Chuck, Debra, Northeastern Professor Emeritus Erick Howenstine, and their families. A celebration honoring Bill Howenstine’s life will be held outdoors at his farm in McHenry on June 28.
