William A. von der Heydt passed away Monday, February 22nd at his home in Provincetown.
Born in Belleville, New Jersey, in 1942, he graduated from Belleville High School and enlisted in the United States Air Force serving overseas in Germany. After his discharge Bill attended the Art Students League in New York City where he studied with Robert Brackman, Robert Beverly Hale and Vaclav Vytlacil.
While studying in New York he and fellow artist and friend Steve Toomey made the decision to make the journey to Provincetown and study with Henry Hensche at the Cape School of Art. In Provincetown a world of natural wonder and artistic expression opened for Bill. To support himself he began working for Sal and Josephine del deo at Sal’s Place; first as a busboy and then for many years as a waiter. It was here as a member of the “crew” at Sal’s that Bill formed so many of his early and lasting bonds of friendship here in Provincetown.
In the dunes and natural landscape surrounding Provincetown Bill found the inspiration for the soft and penetrating expression of his talent. Often painting the same scene at different times of the day on separate canvases to emphasize how different light could change the tone and appearance of the same view. We can identify with in his paintings because we share in this recognition.
Bill’s paintings have shown at the Davis Gallery in Wellfleet, the Wichita Center for the Arts, the Cambridge Art Association, the Cape Cod Art Association, the Viridian Gallery in New York, the Norwich Arts Council Gallery in Norwich, CT, the Provincetown Group Gallery and the Provincetown Art Association among others. Most recently his paintings were shown at the Captain’s Daughters Gallery in Provincetown.
For over twenty years Bill worked at Dunes Edge Campground as an assistant manager and night watchman. The camper friends he made during those years have remained in close touch with “wild Bill” long after his retirement.
Among his closest contacts were his fellow brothers at the Beachcombers Club. His importance and role at the Club cannot be understated as expressed by fellow Beachcomber Paul Schulenburg recently: “I think of Bill von der Heydt as the heart of the club. Not the whole heart, but a big part of it. He leaves an empty space where for so long we could rely on his kindness, patience and diligence.”
His loss will be deeply felt by so many in this community as Sal del deo so poignantly expressed: “His nature was so shy, that had he lived anywhere else, his passing would have gone by totally unnoticed. But, here in Provincetown, his passing is of the utmost importance to the artists and equally so to all his friends. We’ll never see his likes again.”
Our kind and gentle giant Bill is survived by his long time, close friend Miriam Collinson, his fellow Beachcomber brothers and his many friends.
Bill will be buried with his family at Graceland Memorial Park in Kenilworth, NJ. A Celebration of his life will be held in Provincetown at a date to be announced.