William G. Grigsby

William G. Grigsby, Emeritus Professor, University of Pennsylvania 1927 – 2021William (Bill) Grigsby, a former faculty member in the School of Design’s department of city and regional planning, died on April 20. He was 94.Dr. Grigsby was born and raised in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He took undergraduate courses at Northwest Missouri State Teachers College, University of Kansas, and University of Colorado. He then received a PhD in economics from Columbia University. Dr. Grigsby served for five years in the U.S. Navy during World War II and the Korean War.Dr. Grigsby joined the faculty of Penn’s Graduate School of Fine Arts in 1955. In 1961, he became a research associate professor of urban studies in the School of Fine Arts, a joint position with the Wharton School’s department of finance. In 1963, he published his book Housing Markets and Public Policy, with Penn Press, which staked out the still-fledgling field of housing policy. Four years later, he became a professor of city planning at Penn. Dr. Grigsby also had a secondary appointment in the Institute for Urban Studies. He was active in Penn’s community, serving on several University Council and Faculty Senate committees throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s, including the Senate Advisory Committee, a prestigious position. In 1987 he published the book The Dynamics of Neighborhood Change and Decline, considered a definitive work in his field. In 1996, Dr. Grigsby retired from Penn and took emeritus status.Dr. Grigsby’s research, recognized by his colleagues in a paper published after his retirement, was instrumental in establishing neighborhood change as a sub-field of city planning. Dr. Grigsby studied the politics of housing markets and residential segregation, the effect of poverty on neighborhoods, and steps public leaders could take to alleviate negative effects of neighborhood change. “It is very important to note that Grigsby’s contributions are so foundational to the modern field of housing economics and housing policy that many of the first-generation analysts like John Cain, John Quigley, William Wheaton, Richard Muth, and Anthony Downs do not bother to cite his works,” said his colleagues in their paper in celebration of him. “Grigsby’s contributions have become ingrained in the core of housing policy.”Dr. Grigsby is predeceased by his beloved wife of 58 years, Esther Grigsby (nee Olson). He is survived by his five loving daughters, Anne Lanshe (Timothy), Laurie de Linde (Jorn), Sioux Xenakis, Karen Grigsby, and Astrid Dee Bennett (Joseph); seven adoring grandchildren: Jeffrey Lanshe, Andreas de Linde, Astrid de Linde, Lauren Xenakis Lentz (Merritt), Lindsay Xenakis, Danielle Bennett Gniewoz (Michael), and Joseph Bennett; and four great-grandchildren: Drew Lentz, Georgia Lentz, Alexandra Lentz, and Savannah Gniewoz.Bill was a man of great intellect and great integrity, kindness, and wit, who cared deeply about his family and friends, and cherished his times with them.Inurnment PrivateA visitation to meet with the family will be held on Saturday, June 19th, 11:00-11:30 AM , at the Anthony Wayne House, 2049 Waynesborough Rd, Paoli, PA. 19301. A Celebration of Life Service will follow at 11:30 AM.