Dian L. Williams

Dian Leslee Rivers Williams, age 78, a long time resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, passed away on September 20, surrounded by her children and the love of family and friends, after a valiant battle with multiple myeloma and subsequent complications. 

Dian was born March 28, 1944 in Pottsville, PA, raised by her late mother, Eve Kadingo Parkinson and late stepfather, Edward Parkinson in Schuylkill Haven, PA. Dian was fiercely independent from childhood, with an enthusiasm for learning and reading, which lasted her lifetime. After graduating from Schuylkill Haven High School in 1962, she became a registered nurse upon completion of nursing school at Harrisburg Polyclinic School of Nursing. She then went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Antioch University, a Master’s of Science in Criminal Justice from West Chester University and a Doctor of Philosophy with a focus on clinical social services from Walden University. 

Dian recently told her daughter that her life’s work was core to her identity. Her career spanned nearly 60 years of dedicated service to providing and teaching ethical values-based mental and behavioral health services. Her specialities were in the areas of psychiatric nursing and administration, addiction treatment and rehabilitation, criminal justice, advanced forensic interviewing techniques, sex-offense and fire-setting, mental health research and analysis, and standards of care compliance at the federal, state and local levels. In 1985, she founded the Center for Arson Research to asses fire-setters of all ages and to recommend intervention and treatment options. Her specific knowledge in this area led her to be called upon nationally and internationally to provide expert witness testimony and consultation. Dian was both a practitioner and a scholar.  She published numerous texts and articles in professional journals on topics such as equity in health care, nursing ethics, and behavioral and arson profiling. During her time as a tenured professor in the Department of Criminal Justice at West Chester University, she served as an informal point of contact for military students transitioning back to civilian life. Prior to her retirement, she often spoke warmly and enthusiastically about her students and with hope about their future impact in their professional lives.

A passionate and powerful advocate for women’s empowerment, democracy, humanitarian relief, and human rights, Dian was engaged extensively in civic duty and volunteer activities. During the 1960’s she was immersed in the civil rights movement and from that point forward until her final months, was an active participant and organizer in social justice initiatives and peaceful protest for change. In 2001, she organized and supervised a post 911 hotline in the City of Philadelphia to assist agencies and individuals attempting to locate missing or injured people in New York. In 2005, she traveled to Houston, Texas to provide mental health and trauma assessment for individuals diverted there from New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. She was also involved with volunteer activities at election sites during federal, state and local elections. These are just a few of her many activities in support of a fair and just society. She believed deeply in the quote on her phone answering machine by novelist and activist Alice Walker, that “the most significant way people give up their power is believing they don’t have any.”

During the Covid-19 pandemic, she published her first fictional work, Long Shadows in Whitechapel, which brought her great joy. Featuring “murder, mayhem, and ethical dilemmas,” the novel was Dian’s contribution to her favorite literary genre, mystery. Two of her favorite authors, Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, would be proud.

Dian literally danced her way through life. She loved old rock and roll music, Motown, and rhythm and blues. She laughed a lot, was proud of her Ukrainian heritage, reveled in the products of her garden, enjoyed cooking and book discussions with friends, and never missed a chance to say “I love you.” Dian was a devoted dog lover, and leaves behind her latest canine companion, Naja, in the care of trusted friends. 

In 1969, Dian married and later divorced Lowell Williams, with whom she had two adoring children, Romy Elisa and Justin Lowell. Romy and Justin were the great loves of her life, along with their spouses, Derek and Tanya, and Dian’s grandchildren Austin, Chase, Savanna, Kory, Summer and Jordan. Dian touched each of her grandchildren in special ways that they carry with them. From his Grandi, Austin learned an absolute love of reading and the importance of taking action for social justice, both of which have shaped his life. Chase received his Grandi’s constant quest to bring him joy by celebrating and investing in his interests. Savanna says her Grandi inspired her to feel powerful and be fearless about advocating for what’s right, even when she stands alone. Summer says that her Grandi taught her how to speak her truth and remain firm for what she believes. Kory was encouraged by his Grandi to be proud of being a young black man, and to embrace everything about himself with comfort. Jordan said Grandi lit up rooms and had a peaceful energy that he admired. Her legacy lives. 

Dian is also survived by her only and cherished sibling, sister Adrian Melissinos, Adrian’s husband Manny, their children, Dian’s nephew George and niece Dominique and their spouses and children, along with loving cousins, her oldest friend Sue Mazur of 70 years, and dear, dear friends who she cherished deeply. 

Dian was a member of the Unitarian Society of Germantown Church. She spent her life doing good deeds and engaging in good works. Her children profess that the world is better because she has been in it. The kind, strong, beautiful, generous, fun, imitable Dian Williams will be missed greatly.

In lieu of flowers or other kind contributions, the family requests that in honor of Dian, you commit an act of kindness toward another or you contribute your time or resources to a worthy cause in support of voting rights. The family is grateful for the expressions of sympathy and support extended to them during this time of bereavement.

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