Obituary of Olivia & William Allaway

OLIVIA FOSTER ALLAWAY November 24, 1924 - June 12, 2014 and WILLIAM HARRIS ALLAWAY March 31, 1924 - June 15, 2014 OLIVIA FOSTER ALLAWAY, was born November 24, 1924, daughter of Eva (Woodhull) and Oliver Wallace Foster of Patchogue, New York. WILLIAM HARRIS ALLAWAY, son of Helen (Harris) and William Horsford Allaway of Oak Park and Downers Grove, Illinois, was born March 31, 1924. Both died peacefully in their home, Olivia on June 12th and Bill on June 15th, 2014. The Allaways moved to Santa Barbara in 1960 where Bill's work was to create a new junior year foreign study program for the University of California system based at UCSB. Setting up the Education Abroad Program required much time away for Bill, with Olivia "holding down the fort". Olivia's enthusiastic spirit and love of adventure led to a lively family life, and she encouraged her children (and grandchildren) to explore a world full of possibilities. The Allaway home was the scene of many inter-cultural experiences with visitors from all over the globe. Olivia and Bill remained in Santa Barbara and retired to the Samarkand community. Olivia grew up on the Long Island shore, attended Wellesley College and after working in Mexico for a year, joined the Institute of International Education in Denver, CO. She loved languages, taught herself Latin and was fluent in Spanish and French. The whole family learned French and enjoyed many travels and sojourns abroad. After the children were older, she pursued graduate study in speech therapy, was a successful travel agent, and an avid lifelong learner. A fine violinist, she and Bill shared a love of music and the arts with their family and community. Over the years she was an active member of Goleta Presbyterian Church, Assn of University Women, Adventures in Eating, PEO, and with Bill in PAX2100 and other peace and justice initiatives. Olivia's keen inquisitiveness, vibrant and brilliant mind, together with her deep and expansive heart, enriched her cherished encounters with family and friends. Olivia met Bill through their mutual work with the IIE and they married in 1952. Olivia's international awareness and interests were influenced by her father's work as an importer of largely Japanese goods and her time in Mexico, and Bill's from his work with the international student YMCA movement in Europe after WWII. Bill grew up in the Chicago area and attended the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. He was president of the senior class which also included Hugh Hefner, Gene Shalit and Arte Johnson. Active in student government, he served as special assistant to university president Dr. George Stoddard at the founding convention of UNESCO in 1948. He pursued a doctorate in international education at University of Denver and got administrative experience as an assistant dean at Stanford University in the late 50's. Bill's work at UCSB led to the development of the largest study abroad program of its kind in the world, with programs at host universities in as many as 44 countries. He served on the presidential commission on international education under Jimmy Carter, and was a pioneer in arranging study opportunities in both communist Russia and China. Bill was particularly proud of the role his students in Beijing played in assisting the media in their efforts to get the news out to the world after the Tiananmen Square events. Bill golfed on all seven continents, including Antarctica, enjoyed skiing well into his 80's, and until recently sang in the choir at Goleta Presbyterian Church. Bill and Olivia are survived by their two sons and daughter, Bill Jr. (Janet) of Lafayette, CA; Ben (Julianne) of Des Moines, IA; and Eve (Ron Wiley) of Sparks, NV; Bill's sister Helen "Peg" Laflin of Grass Valley, CA; eight grandchildren and beloved extended family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to UC EAP Memorial Scholarship Fund/Bill Allaway (payable to 'UC Regents' c/o UCEAP Development Office, 6950 Hollister Ave, Ste 200, Goleta 93117). A joint memorial service will be held Saturday, June 21st at 2:00 p.m. at Goleta Presbyterian Church.