We hope to build on Knowledge for Generation’s compelling story about Wiley’s culture by tapping into the Company’s enduring collaborative relationships with authors, customers, partners, colleagues, and others.
Please help us capture Wiley’s untold history -- past, present, and future -- and contribute your anecdotes and stories here.
With thanks,
William J. Pesce, President and CEO
Peter Booth Wiley, Chairman of the Board of Directors
Remembering Joy Sikorski - August 2009
Marsheela Evans, Manager - Reprints and Custom Publishing
Joy Sikorski was a remarkable woman with a great heart. This is a sentiment shared by many of her colleagues. Joy was a very special person and a tender human being who brought happiness to all who interacted with her. She loved working at Wiley so much that even during her weak moments she continued to struggle to come to work.
Joy was well loved by many professors in the custom publishing program, who frequently requested that she be assigned to do the production work for their titles. Joy was a very creative person, who had a passion for interacting with children. She was the bestselling author of numerous “How to Draw…” children’s books, which she shared with many of us at Wiley and with many children of Wiley colleagues. Joy was also a Hoboken history enthusiast, giving a lot of herself to the Hoboken community, especially the Hoboken Historical Museum.
Joy will be greatly missed by her colleagues in the Global Education Digital Production group as well as many others within Wiley. We will all miss her smile and the “Joy” she brought to everyone. If you wish to honor Joy’s memory, you can make a donation to the Joy Fund Children’s Room at the Ridgewood Public Library in Ridgewood, NJ.
Peter Wiley, Chairman of the Board of Directors
Joy was a friendly soul. I don’t recall why we started chatting, but, seeing each other on the seventh floor, we did on a regular basis. Soon we were having regular conversations, mostly about her work with the Hoboken Museum, which was a mutual interest, and exchanging publications, my San Francisco guidebook for her publications for the Museum. So many of our colleagues lead such fascinating lives beyond their work in publishing, and Joy was one of them. Earlier this year I described Joy to a new colleague as an example of the kind of person was it was fun to work with. She will be missed.
Josephine Bacchi-Mourtziou Retired on July 31, 2009, after 43 years with Wiley
Josephine (Jo) Bacchi-Mourtziou retired from Wiley as Vice President and Corporate Secretary on July 31, 2009, after nearly 43 years with the Company. Following her graduation from high school, Jo served in the office of the Brooklyn District Attorney for two years. She joined Wiley in 1966 as a secretary in Customer Service. In 1977, Jo became Administrative Assistant to W. Bradford Wiley, who was Chairman and CEO at the time. Further promotions led to her becoming Corporate Secretary in 1992. Attending night classes, she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Marymount Manhattan College in 1997 and was named Vice President and Corporate Secretary in 2007.
Jo brought new meaning to the words learning on the job. As Wiley evolved, so did Jo. During her more than four decades of dedicated service, she performed her responsibilities as the consummate professional. Known for her total dedication to Wiley, Jo is admired and respected by her colleagues around the world for her thoughtful and ethical approach to everything she has done at and for our Company. We also learned to appreciate her wonderful sense of humor. We wish our esteemed colleague, Josephine Bacchi-Mourtziou, all the best that life has to offer. She truly deserves it.
In Memoriam: Professor Erwin O. Kreyszig
The following address was given by Dagmar Stehle (Publishing Director, Books & References, Wiley-VCH) during a memorial service for Dr. Kreyszig on July 14, 2009. Erwin Kreyszig, PhD, passed away in December 2008.
Professor Kreyszig and Wiley met in the late 1950s for the first time. We consider it a blessing that we were able to commemorate this special 50 year anniversary of publisher and author relationship together with Professor Kreyszig. His years of service to this institution are exceptional and we here at Wiley are very proud of this working relationship.
His famous textbook “Advanced Engineering Mathematics” is now available in its 9th edition and is very likely the most significant textbook in this field. Nearly 70% of all students in the engineering and science field all across the world have studied mathematics out of this book, which would mean to date this totals over 1 million students amongst them also students in Germany. Professor Eichhorn of the Technical University Berlin utilized this book with great success despite it being in English but not German language.
Therefore, Professor Erwin O. Kreyszig was and remains one of the most successful and influential writers of mathematic literature in the 20th century. So far, more than 1 million copies have been sold. If you were to place all of these books end to end, this string of books would be 25,000 km long, meaning the book has already made it half around the world. Certainly this makes it a true global success story.
Shortly before he passed away, he was working on the preparation of large sections for the planned 10th edition with the help of his son Herbert. We very much hope that Herbert Kreyszig will not end this successful cooperation but continue it with the publisher for and on behalf of his father.
In his cooperation with the John Wiley & Sons Publisher, Professor Kreyszig stood out in terms of his meticulous attention to detail and tireless efforts to continuously want to improve his book. In many exchanges and discussions with professors but also with students, he continued to perfect his main work. From a purely mathematical standpoint, these efforts increased his book by 1 cm per edition, or by about 100 pages. He loved to discuss and analyze a topic with all those involved and increase his knowledge. It is, therefore, no wonder that his book became such a success and that his legacy will continue long into the 21st century.
He published many very notable and successful works in his lifetime, including with Wiley; however, his book “Advanced Engineering Mathematics” remains particularly outstanding.
He was also known for his many travels. We were always more than pleased to see him at the book fair, where he used to visit regularly and even bring his wife along in earlier years.
Speaking of the book fair, he was particularly fond of utilizing this venue to stay in touch with international booksellers and publishing staff alike. I have come to realize this over the past few days, when colleagues from all over the world sent me their memories of him for today’s occasion. We here at Wiley hold our authors in great esteem and maintain a good and close relationship with them. Many staff members who knew him told me that the relationship to Professor Kreyszig was particularly close and warm and that it was easy to become friends with him. He was more than just an author; he was a very good friend!
A Scandinavian bookseller burst into tears after she had had a conversation with him at the book fair. Their meeting had made a deep impression on her and she said that this had been one of the most touching moments in her life. And this is certainly not the only such story that is going to remain imprinted on our minds and hearts.
He was a wonderful person and a fantastic colleague and friend to us all. He will be sorely missed by his family, his friends, colleagues, and us here at the John Wiley & Sons Publisher. It was our great honor and pleasure to have worked with him and we are going to miss him deeply.
Read additional reflections.On December 31, 2008, Audrey Chiang-Wee, retired from Wiley after 15 years of dedicated service in the Singapore office. Audrey joined Wiley in 1993 as the Promotions Manager and helped build the Company’s Asia operations. To read Audrey’s reflections as she prepared for retirement, click here.
On November 11, 2008, friends and colleagues of Charles R. Ellis gathered at The Union Club to celebrate his life. Click on the links below to read remarks from William J. Pesce, Peter Booth Wiley, and Eric Swanson, Senior Vice President; Scientific, Technical, Medical, and Scholarly.
Reflections from Will Pesce
Reflections from Peter Booth Wiley
Reflections from Eric Swanson
We bid farewell to Natu Patel, Vice President, Tax. Natu is a valued colleague who has been with Wiley for 25 years and will be greatly missed. For Natu's reflection on his tenure at Wiley, click here.
George A. Olah, Wiley author and 1994 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry
July 21, 2008
I am a Wiley author (previously with Interscience) for 45 years and still active (with a number books in production, including VCH). I had a wonderful experience with Wiley over all these years. I hope the Wiley tradition maintaining consistent excellence will continue for a long time.
Peter R. Conway, Courier Corp.
June 23, 2008
Peter and Debbie Wiley, as well as Will, always make a point to thank Courier Corp. for our efforts on their behalf. I can't tell you how powerful those sincere comments are and how much they mean to the entire Corporation. It is our pleasure to be associated with such a fine group of outstanding people that make up the Wiley family. Congratulations on your longevity!
Alain Grund, former president of the International Publishers Association, remembers Charles Ellis
May 9, 2008
I had met Charles Ellis on several occasions in the course of our respective careers, but we really became closer to each other when, in 1995, we were given the responsibility to lead the International Publishers Association.
The task was not an easy one: there were multiple difficulties inside and outside. Charles Ellis was at the same time a shrewd decision-maker and a remarkable diplomat. Apparently we formed a good team: when our term came to its end in 2000, IPA was in good shape.
Francophile and francophone, Charles Ellis did much to develop the exchanges between American and French publishers. In recognition, the French Government granted him the title of "Chevalier des Arts et Lettres." Needless to say that, with such common interests, we became close friends.
When after his retirement he came more frequently to France - and we happened to become neighbours in Paris- we had more time to meet. Thus, our exchanges became richer: Charles was a man of great culture, interested in philosophy as well as in contemporary history.
Like many of us I shall miss his kindness, his sense of humor linked to a very keen insight and a great interest for people.
A gentleman.
Wiley Mourns the Loss of Former President & CEO, Charles R. Ellis May 9, 2008
Charles R. Ellis
A graduate of Princeton University, Charles began his career teaching at a preparatory school and working for Bertrand Russell, the British philosopher and activist. Charles soon found a balance between the intellectual life and concerns of making a living by turning to publishing. After successful stints in executive positions at Pergamon Press, D.C. Heath, and Elsevier Science Publishing Company, he joined John Wiley & Sons, Inc, in 1988, where he served as the President & CEO from 1990-98.
Charles led our company from the difficult days of the late 1980s into the sustained period of growth and profitability that continues into the present. A publisher by temperament and trade, Charles was instrumental in bringing about the company's revival and initiating its transition to a truly global corporation. On his watch, Wiley became profitable again; executed major strategic acquisitions including VCH Publishing Group, Alan R. Liss, and Jossey-Bass; was listed on the NYSE; and launched its first online ventures. In the year of Charles's retirement, the Financial Times ranked Wiley as the world's 27th most respected company.
Beyond his role in Wiley's resurgence, Charles has acted as an influential advocate for the worldwide publishing community. With a cosmopolitan perspective enhanced by European postings with Pergamon Press and Elsevier in his pre-Wiley days, Charles was President of the International Publishers Association. He was also Chair of the Association of American Publishers from 1992-94; in 1998, he received the AAP's highest honor, the Curtis Benjamin Award. He was an avid supporter of the Digital Object Identifier, a code embedded in digital content that helped lay the groundwork for publishing online; and worked tirelessly on behalf of intellectual property rights.
Those fortunate to have known and worked with this charming, sophisticated, and diplomatic man will miss him terribly. On behalf of the entire Wiley community, we extend our deepest condolences to his wife, Sandi, and their family.
In lieu of flowers, donations to World Education, Inc., 44 Farnsworth Street, Boston, MA 02210 (wei@worlded.org) are requested.
John Morris, Raymond V. Marziano, and Jim Lawler, Brady Palmer Printing, Carmel, NY, (Wiley vendor)
We are not surprised at the great success you [Wiley] have had for over 200 years. In our experience as a supplier we have found a sharp business acumen, a genuine and sincere business relationship coupled with a great spirit of cooperation and integrity. We are proud that we have been privileged to be part of your success and we look forward to continuing with you into your third century.Paul Yip, Kyodo Printing Co. (Singapore) Pte Ltd, (Wiley printer)
We are enormously honored to be able to work with Wiley on their publications for the past 23 years and were indeed privileged of being part of Wiley's success on the Bicentennial celebrations, jointly looking forward to Wiley's Quadricentennial celebration in the Global Publishing Industry and beyond!
Jim Pentecost, President/CEO of Dickinson Press, Grand Rapids, MI, (Wiley vendor)
Congratulations on 200 years of top rated publishing. Dickinson Press, with only a 124 year history, has been proud to serve John Wiley and Sons for many years. The relationship we have had with all Wiley colleagues has always been at the highest degree of honesty, integrity, and respect.
We wish you continued success into the next 200 years.
A note from Harm de Blij, author of Regions, to Bonnie Lieberman, SVP of Global Education. Dr. de Blij has been a Wiley author of Global Education Geography texts for over 30 years. His flagship text, Geography: Realms, Regions and Concepts, is now in its 13th edition.
Video: deBlij congratulates Wiley on its 200th anniversary (0:17)
Windows Media Player | Quicktime
Dear Bonnie,
Just a note to thank you for your truly generous and kind words in the magnificent Wiley volume, and for the coverage of Regions in the text -- I was astonished and honored and it brought back so many memories dating nearly fifty years past. It was my great good fortune not only to have become a member of the Wiley Family, but to have benefited from your timely and impactful arrival, which marked an upturn in the College Division's trajectory that is still continuing. All of us Wiley authors are in your debt, and please know that we recognize it...
With warm regards,
Harm
Stefan Usansky (Wiley retiree, Sales Manager Library Supply) reflects on his relationship with Jim Durrant, Wiley’s former U.K. Trade Manager, who recently passed away. Jim retired from Wiley in 1981.
Jim Durrant and Stefan Usansky, 1981 (Chichester)
I have three particularly vivid memories of Jim. He was my sales manager for the first ten years of my career with Wiley and, as a sales rep covering a large part of the UK, he insisted that I phone him every Friday to give him feedback on what sort of week I had experienced. This was in the days before mobile phones when it was often extremely difficult to find a telephone box that was working and didn't have a long queue waiting for people to use it. When I did finally get through I often used to tell Jim how frustrated I was with booksellers who annoyed me by asking me to sign return notes for "old" books but weren't prepared to give me orders for new publications, weren't prepared to participate in Wiley promotions or give me window displays for an "exciting" new series of titles. Jim used to respond either by laughing or (not very often!) sympathising. But he always used to tell me that "It's all part of the rich tapestry of life, my boy." My weekly calls to Our Great Leader were always uplifting.
One Friday I failed to phone Jim and the following day I received a telegram - Are you still alive? Jim.
Thirty years ago the company was much smaller and consequently there wasn't the need for all the bureaucracy and form-filling that is required today. For example, job descriptions were much simpler and when I took over the role as Sales Manager in 1983 my job description was:
- Sell more books at a profit.
- Continue to strengthen the Wiley image.
- Sell more books at a profit.
These are perfect examples of Jim Durrant. Keep things uncomplicated and work with a smile.
Deni Auclair, Wiley colleague, VP Corporate Development
I'm lucky enough to have a job that takes me to fun places and allows me to meet many interesting people (actually, I think that's the definition of just about any job in publishing). One of the places my job took me was Moscow, for the due diligence aspect of the acquisition of Maris, now TES (part of WPT). The team included Deirdre Silver (Legal), Rosie Altoft, Scott Penny, Andy Townsend, and Gregory St. John (WPT), and myself (Planning & Development). Most of our four days there were taken with going through documents, talking to people, touring the workplace, meetings – in short, all of those things that fall under due diligence.
One night, Gregory, Andy, Deirdre and I went out for dinner with our translator to what was purported to be a popular tourist restaurant. One of the items on the menu, which had English translations next to the Russian language item, was: "meats farce, decocted and involved with a flapjack." After going back and forth trying to figure out what the dish was, it came to us – ravioli!
On the flight home, before it even took off, the seat in front of me lowered as its occupant prepared to sleep – the occupant turning out to be Sandra Day O'Connor, who had been in Moscow for the annual American Legal Association meeting. She soon drifted off to sleep. Sitting next to Gregory, I raised my eyebrows and remarked what a great story it would be to be able to say that I had a supreme court justice sleeping in my lap!
The deal took the longest to complete of any I've worked on to date – 367 days. But it has proved to be worth it.
Richard Lynch, Wiley retiree
Richard Lynch is a retiree who has worked at Wiley for over 25 years. Read Dick’s humorous account of his dynamic career in publishing as it relates to Wiley’s history.
Peter Gölitz, Editor-in-Chief “Angewandte Chemie“
In 1807 Goethe wrote, Beethoven composed, Goya painted, Humboldt researched, Napoleon ruled– though only in continental Europe; George III reigned in England, Thomas Jefferson presided over a “wise and frugal Government” in the USA, an emperor of the Qing Dynasty ruled in China in times of social unrest, and Tenno Kokaku was the leader of Japan during a period of peace that had lasted hundreds of years – the millers milled, the blacksmiths hammered, and in New York Charles Wiley opened up a small printing shop. And what has grown out of these modest beginnings is truly amazing! John Wiley & Sons is today a global publisher that is highly esteemed not only in view of economic figures, but also because of the breadth of its enterprise and particularly the quality of its products. […] To continually spark enthusiasm in chemistry and incite new ideas with every issue of Angewandte Chemie are especially gratifying for me as I stand on the eve of my 25th anniversary as Editor-in-Chief […].
Dr. Willi Meier, DECHEMA e.V. and European Federation of Chemical Engineering (EFCE)
[…] In recent decades Wiley published several new journals which are of great interest for the Chemical Engineering Community. Current developments in the discipline, such as process intensification and micro reaction technology or nanotechnology, are covered in special topic volumes of journals like Chemie Ingenieur Technik and Chemical Engineering & Technology. Wiley’s books have a recognized quality of their own, while Ullmann’s Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry is still the bible of the Chemical Engineering discipline. […] I believe that publication of reviewed articles is essential for the progress of chemical engineering, and the community owes a great deal to Wiley for being such a profuse publisher over the last 200 years.
Joe Longo, Offset Impressions, Inc.
"To write what is worth publishing, to find honest people to publish it, and get sensible people to read it, are the three great difficulties in being an author."
-Charles Caleb Colton
Congratulations to Wiley on 200 years of success and growth. We are very proud of our association with John Wiley and Sons Publishing.
