Max William (Bill) Dix, Jr. passed away on September 15, 2024. Bill was known for his keen intellect and quick wit. He was mischievous, with a perpetual twinkle in his eye. Bill was a man with dignity and strength of character, paired with a certain gentleness. Perhaps he was best known, however, for his love and devotion to his family.
Bill was born on November 2, 1945, to Max William and Shirley Dix in Provo, Utah. One of his earliest memories was meeting his younger brother David, who became a lifelong companion. Bill spent his early years on the move, before settling in Casper, Wyoming.
Apart from his family, Bill’s only constants were his studies and baseball. He excelled in both. Bill attended The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, where he studied Material Science, played baseball, snuck into Fenway Park, listened to jazz music, and joined Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE). It was at MIT where he formed many lasting friendships, which he always treasured.
Upon graduation, Bill joined the Peace Corps and shipped off to Manila, Philippines. He yearned to understand the world and to learn more about the common “tao” (person). He taught high school physics, coached baseball, and explored his surroundings with a studious curiosity. Bill also took up flying, following the path of his father (who flew medical planes in WWII) and his mother (who was the fourth woman in the state of Utah to hold a pilot’s license).
When he came home, Bill returned to Boston where he interviewed for and landed a job at the MIT Admissions/Educational Counselor’s Office. This is where he met Karen Brown his new co-worker, who noticed his kind eyes and sweet smile the moment he walked through the door. What started as a friendship gradually became something more. The pair were married July 17, 1971. From then on, the two were an unstoppable team and built a beautiful life together.
Bill went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Management from the MIT Sloan School. Karen typed his thesis one night after work. He was then hired by General Atomic. Bill and Karen moved to San Diego, where they spent their newlywed years in the California sunshine.
After his mother’s unexpected passing, Bill and Karen transferred to Denver, Colorado to be closer to his father and brother. Bill joined the ranks at Pittsburgh & Midway (P&M) Coal Mining Company (Chevron), where he rose to Senior Vice President.
It was in Denver that Bill’s two daughters, Katherine (Katie) and Emily, were born at "Red Rose" Hospital. His girls brought him joy (and a few grey hairs). He loved them more than he could have imagined.
Bill was a man of many moments – some big, but many small. He taught his girls to ride bikes, and later to drive. He read “The Three Billy Goats Gruff” with dramatic flair. He coached their little league soccer, and even kicked a goose that took too active an interest in Katie’s ankle and tried to nibble her after practice. He rose early for work every morning, tap dancing in his dress shoes on his way out the door. Bill was there to walk his daughters down the aisle, Katie when she married Jeff Elsner and Emily when she married Walter Kowtoniuk. He met, hugged, and giggled with his grandchildren – Evelyn (Evie), Cora, Alexa (Lexi), Caroline, Harrison and William.
Over the years, Bill was intentional about staying connected to those he loved. He was often the first to call to wish you a happy birthday. And he was always the first to rub it in – playfully, of course – when his preferred team won over yours.
Bill never stopped learning. He was a fixture on his patio post-retirement, sitting in the sun reading, taking notes, and listening to lectures. Bill also never stopped teaching. He came up with a clever mnemonic to help his girls (and now his grandchildren) remember how to spell Tuesday. He used pennies at the kitchen table to explain algebra. His last lesson, however, was the most important and the hardest to learn – not to waste a single moment of this precious life.
Celebration of Life to be held at Olinger’s Chapel Hill on October 13, 2024 at 2:00. As Bill prioritized caring for and connecting with others, the family asks that you do the same. Call someone you love or, even better, take them out to lunch!
In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the MIT Friends of Baseball Fund in Bill’s memory. Gifts may be made by visiting the MIT giving website:
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