William T. Ansty Jr.

WILLIAM T. ANSTY JR. age 90 of Carmel, IN (formerly of Indianapolis, IN and Bonita Springs, FL) died February 26, 2020.  He was born June 8, 1929 in Springfield, MA to William T. Ansty Sr. and Alice Meagher Ansty.  Bill graduated from Springfield Classical High School.  His baccalaureate degree was conferred by Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and he attained an MBA from the Harvard Business School.  Bill voluntarily interrupted his studies at Georgetown to enlist in the U.S. Army and reached the rank of 1^st Lieutenant during the Korean War before completing his undergraduate and graduate education.

Following graduate school Bill was recruited by Cummins Engine Co. and fast tracked to a number of management positions.  After leaving Cummins to pursue employment opportunities with other companies in Chicago and Indianapolis, he found his true calling in the field of higher education where he positively touched the lives of students and colleagues.  Bill’s teaching career in the Purdue University School of Engineering and Technology at the Indianapolis campus (IUPUI) spanned 27 years.  Drawing upon his previous years of working in the private sector, Professor Ansty became a recognized expert in management and labor relations. Bill was the recipient of the 1986 AMOCO Foundation Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award and the 1993 Frank E. Burley Distinguished Professorship Award.  He retired in 1994 with Emeritus faculty rank.

Bill was affectionately known as “Poppy” by his family.  Poppy was a clever wordsmith, always amusing his grandchildren and close friends with witty poems and clever nicknames.  He was a devoted sports fan, rooting passionately for the Red Sox, IU and ironically any opponent facing Notre Dame.  He enjoyed returning to New England in the summers gathering extended family and friends to the beaches of Rhode Island. He was an avid reader of mystery novels, often consuming multiple books weekly from the public library.  He also stayed connected with the business world dedicating daily time reading the Wall Street Journal.

Bill was preceded in death by his first wife of 25 years, Janice Birchler Ansty who was the mother of his four children, sister Jean Ansty Smith and brother, Edward C. Ansty.

Survivors include Bill’s second wife of 36 years, Jane Ryker Ansty, four adult children, Jane Ansty Grosvenor (Rick), William T. Ansty III (Debbie Medeiros), Elizabeth Ansty Sullivan (Pat), John C. Ansty (Ellen) and daughter in law Kathleen Ansty.  Bill also leaves two surviving brothers, John D. Ansty of West Newton, MA, and Robert J. Ansty of Largo, FL, as well as 13 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Following his retirement, Bill and his wife Jane moved to Bonita Springs, FL in 1994, fulfilling his childhood dream to live in the tropics.  Ten years later they moved back to Indiana where they settled in Carmel to spend more time with Indianapolis family and friends.  For many years Bill and Jane returned to Bonita Springs during the winter months always welcoming family and friends to their condo guest quarters.

Visitation will take place on Wednesday, March 4 from 10:00 am to noon at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 7200 Sarto Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46240, immediately followed by a Mass of Christian Burial.  A private interment will be scheduled at a later date.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions to the American Cancer Society, St. Pius X Catholic Church or any other charity of your choice.  Online condolences can also be offered at www.FlannerBuchanan.com