It is with great sadness that the Board of Directors and staff at the Attachment & Trauma Network announce the loss of our dear friend and colleague William “Bill” Zee, III. Bill has been a member of our Board of Directors since 2022 and volunteered for our conference and fundraising efforts. For those of you who had the opportunity to meet Bill at one of our Creating Trauma- Sensitive Schools Conferences, you met a man who was truly selfless. He cared deeply about every person he encountered. He listened. And if he had advice to offer to help a child in your classroom or care, he would provide it, with no expectation other than for you to advocate on that child’s behalf.
Bill started his career as an educator, teaching high school and then at the college level, before pursuing his law degree. As the education law chair of Appel, Yost & Zee, LLP, he built a thriving practice in the areas of student services and special education.
As a member of ATN’s Board, his wisdom navigated us through some intricate business decisions, and his objectivity was much needed as a member of the finance committee. When the Board and staff were together as a whole team, be it at a retreat, in a meeting, or before the conference began, we all looked to Bill for laughter, for recommendations on what books to read or music to listen to. We couldn’t wait to hear the pride in his voice as he talked about his three children or the love for his dear wife, Seana, who is also making an incredible impact for children as a school teacher in PA.
Bill will be greatly missed by so many. His passion for helping children impacted by trauma was profound and personal. ATN is proud to have played such a special part in Bill’s life, and honored to be one of the non-profits he championed. His obituary, with details on arrangements, is linked here.
"Bill made it his life’s work to advocate for those who had no voice by writing and speaking on the subject of childhood trauma, a subject very dear to his heart."
The work that ATN does matters.
The work that Bill did matters.
We at ATN will continue to bring awareness to the issue of early childhood trauma and the importance for creating trauma informed individuals, families, places, systems and communities.
