Brother of Harvard resident
William “Bill” R. Page, a former Polaroid executive and life-long advocate for world peace, passed away on Aug. 27 at the age of 91.
Bill was raised in Belmont, Mass., where he met his true love, Janet. Bill earned his undergraduate degree from Tufts University, and his master’s degree in chemical engineering from MIT.
During World War II, he served as a lieutenant with the U.S. Navy in the Pacific. Bill described, with horror, his experience being dive-bombed by kamikazes at the battle of Okinawa. But after the war, he felt great guilt over the atomic bombings at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, saying, “There’s always a way to rationalize cruelty.”
After retiring from Polaroid, Bill retired to Vermont, but continued to work for the betterment of mankind. A student of evolutionary biology, Bill convinced the Vermont State Corrections Department to learn more about human nature. This led to the creation of a Restorative Justice System, the first of its kind in the United States. The system is now being used in 42 states and around the world. Bill is survived by his sister, Natalie Ohlin, of Harvard, as well as his five sons, nine grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.
A memorial service was held on Tuesday, Sept. 18, at First Parish Church in Lexington, Mass. Donations may be made to First Parish in Lexington, 7 Harrington Road, Lexington, MA 02421.
