The passing of UNCSA founding librarian, Bill Van Hoven

Dear UNCSA Community,

I am saddened to share that our school’s founding librarian, William “Bill” Van Hoven, died Nov. 30, 2023. He was 91.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. this Saturday, Jan. 13, at Home Moravian Church, 529 South Church St. The family will receive friends following the service in the church parlor.

According to alumni reports, Bill set up our first library in a portion of Gray Building. A clipping from the school newspaper in 1966 was headlined: “Library Exemplifies School’s Growth.” The article acknowledged there was no library at the school when it welcomed its first class in August 1965, but by October 1965, “There were about 1,000 volumes, 1,500 pieces of printed music and 1,500 records.” One year later, the article reported, the library boasted 5,230 volumes, 3,138 music scores and 2,850 records.

Bill’s steadfast devotion to UNCSA paved the way for the Semans Library (now Semans Arts and Administration Building) and today’s UNCSA Library and Learning Commons.

He was designated as Faculty Emeritus when he retired in 1992.

Born in Montreal, Bill grew up in New York and received his B.A. from Houghton College in Houghton, New York. In 1956, he received his Master of Arts in teaching from George Peabody College for Teachers and Vanderbilt University in Nashville, and later earned his Master of Science in library science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 

Before joining UNCSA, Bill was librarian at University Library in Nashville and group services librarian at Greensboro Public Library.

He was an avid reader, and loved classical and opera music and the North Carolina mountains.

Bill is survived by his wife of 66 years, Jane Higgins Van Hoven; a daughter, Laura Erdman; two grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Jane Van Hoven was also on faculty; she joined UNCSA in 1971, teaching ecology, anatomy and biology for years in the school’s Academic Program, and continued to teach science in the Division of General Studies. She served as assistant dean of High School from 1974 to 1988.

The couple were well-known in the community and highly regarded for their work at and contributions to UNCSA and its students.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Home Moravian Church or Sunnyside Ministry. Online condolences may be made at Salem Funerals & Cremation.

Sincerely,

Brian Cole 
Chancellor

Jan. 11, 2024