Obituary for William "Bill" Shendow
Dr. William “Bill” Shendow, 77, of Winchester, VA, went home to be with his Lord, October 19, 2018 at Winchester Medical Center.
Bill Shendow was a native of Winchester, VA, who graduated from John Handley High School in 1959. In the fall of that year, he entered Wake Forest University on a football scholarship. At Wake Forest, Bill majored in political science. Following graduation from Wake Forest in 1963, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Bill received a deferment to attend Georgetown University’s Graduate School. His work towards a master’s degree at Georgetown was interrupted in the early winter of 1964 when he was called to active duty. A two-year tour of duty included a year stint as an Intelligence Officer in Vietnam, for which he was awarded a Bronze Star. He was honorably discharged in December 1966. The following year, Bill completed his degree work at Georgetown and received a master’s degree in international relations.
In 1967, Bill returned to Winchester and entered his family’s retail apparel business. From 1967 to 1986 he was vice president of Bell Clothes, Inc., a five-star men’s and ladies’ clothier. In March 1986, he was selected President of the Winchester-Frederick County Chamber of Commerce and Executive Secretary of the Industrial Development Corporation.
Bill was active in numerous civic and business organizations, including the Winchester Host Lions Club. He was instrumental in the founding of Big Brothers/Big Sisters and Kids Voting, and served many years on the Winchester Medical Center’s Board of Directors. In 2002, he was selected by the Chamber of Commerce as the Outstanding Citizen. He served as a member of the Winchester City Council from 1976 – 1983. In 1983, he began instructing government courses at Shenandoah University on a part-time basis. In August 1991, Bill received a doctorate degree in public administration from the Center of Public Administration Policy at Virginia Tech.
In January 1977, Bill became director of the John O. Marsh Institute for Government and Public Policy at Shenandoah University. As Director, Bill worked towards establishing Shenandoah University as a regional educational and public policy resource center for public sector managers and students of government. He retired as Director of the Marsh Institute in 2007. Bill went on to serve as Chair of the Department of Political Science and Coordinator of the Public Management Certificate Program, both of which are part of the university’s College of Arts & Sciences. As a full-time professor, he taught public administration and political science related courses at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Upon his retirement on August 15, 2015, he was awarded the designation of Professor Emeritus.
During his retirement, he enjoyed travelling with family, attending the “Wednesday Morning Group,” and rooting for his beloved Handley Judges and Wake Forest Demon Deacons. He also continued to inspire and advocate for his passions.
Bill is survived by his wife of 57 years, Katherine “Kitty” Swisher Shendow, daughter and son-in-law, Stacey and Larry Francisco, his granddaughter, Mary Katherine Francisco, his two older brothers, Harry and Irvin Shendow, and several nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life will be October 27, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Winchester. Interment will be private.
Memorial contributions may be made in honor of Bill Shendow to First Baptist Church Capital Campaign, 205 West Piccadilly Street, Winchester, VA 22601, or to a charity of your choice.
Bill Shendow was a native of Winchester, VA, who graduated from John Handley High School in 1959. In the fall of that year, he entered Wake Forest University on a football scholarship. At Wake Forest, Bill majored in political science. Following graduation from Wake Forest in 1963, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Bill received a deferment to attend Georgetown University’s Graduate School. His work towards a master’s degree at Georgetown was interrupted in the early winter of 1964 when he was called to active duty. A two-year tour of duty included a year stint as an Intelligence Officer in Vietnam, for which he was awarded a Bronze Star. He was honorably discharged in December 1966. The following year, Bill completed his degree work at Georgetown and received a master’s degree in international relations.
In 1967, Bill returned to Winchester and entered his family’s retail apparel business. From 1967 to 1986 he was vice president of Bell Clothes, Inc., a five-star men’s and ladies’ clothier. In March 1986, he was selected President of the Winchester-Frederick County Chamber of Commerce and Executive Secretary of the Industrial Development Corporation.
Bill was active in numerous civic and business organizations, including the Winchester Host Lions Club. He was instrumental in the founding of Big Brothers/Big Sisters and Kids Voting, and served many years on the Winchester Medical Center’s Board of Directors. In 2002, he was selected by the Chamber of Commerce as the Outstanding Citizen. He served as a member of the Winchester City Council from 1976 – 1983. In 1983, he began instructing government courses at Shenandoah University on a part-time basis. In August 1991, Bill received a doctorate degree in public administration from the Center of Public Administration Policy at Virginia Tech.
In January 1977, Bill became director of the John O. Marsh Institute for Government and Public Policy at Shenandoah University. As Director, Bill worked towards establishing Shenandoah University as a regional educational and public policy resource center for public sector managers and students of government. He retired as Director of the Marsh Institute in 2007. Bill went on to serve as Chair of the Department of Political Science and Coordinator of the Public Management Certificate Program, both of which are part of the university’s College of Arts & Sciences. As a full-time professor, he taught public administration and political science related courses at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Upon his retirement on August 15, 2015, he was awarded the designation of Professor Emeritus.
During his retirement, he enjoyed travelling with family, attending the “Wednesday Morning Group,” and rooting for his beloved Handley Judges and Wake Forest Demon Deacons. He also continued to inspire and advocate for his passions.
Bill is survived by his wife of 57 years, Katherine “Kitty” Swisher Shendow, daughter and son-in-law, Stacey and Larry Francisco, his granddaughter, Mary Katherine Francisco, his two older brothers, Harry and Irvin Shendow, and several nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life will be October 27, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Winchester. Interment will be private.
Memorial contributions may be made in honor of Bill Shendow to First Baptist Church Capital Campaign, 205 West Piccadilly Street, Winchester, VA 22601, or to a charity of your choice.