Harold Anthony “Hal” Williamson

Harold Anthony “Hal” Williamson, 77, was born on May 19, 1934 in Cranbury, NJ to Garfield Williamson Sr. and Antonia Julian. He passed away on January 17, 2012.

He earned a B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, a Juris Doctorate from George Washington University in Washington, DC, and an MBA in Finance from the University of Pittsburgh. He served as Patent Counsel for Union Switch and Signal in Pittsburgh, and Sundstrand Corporation in Rockford, IL.

Hal was proud of his academic accomplishments and of his own transformation as a recovering alcoholic. He celebrated 40 years of sobriety in 2011. As a result of his own struggles and successes, he became a serious student of the human brain. His years of research led him to create a seminar series, Pathways to Greatness, which he delivered to thousands of recovering alcoholics and eventually to corporate audiences, OSHER, and community groups.

Many seminar participants felt Hal helped them to live purposeful lives and urged him to share his work in a book. In 2006, he published, Liberating Greatness, a Whole Brain Guide to an Extraordinary Life, which he wrote with Sharon Eakes.

Hal's unique genius was making complex things understandable and useful, a gift which he used masterfully in prosecuting patent applications and in helping people use their brains to transform their lives.

In 1994, Hal's beloved wife Trudy Weber Williamson, mother of their four children, died tragically in a pedestrian accident, in which Hal also broke his neck and leg.

In 1996, he married Sharon Eakes of , and they continued working together in their company, Hope Unlimited, LLC, bringing hope to many.

Hal is survived by his loving wife Sharon Eakes, his brother, Garfield Williamson, his sister, Norma Brown, his four children, Susan Dixon (Bob), Hal, Jr. (Jackie), Patty Hinkle (Larry), Amy Kasten (Craig), two stepchildren, Lisa Mitchell (Greg Hudson), Gordon Mitchell (Kathleen McTigue), 14 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren and his cat Bonkers.

Hal was a devoted and active member of the Baha'i Faith. A memorial service will be held on Saturday January 21 at 10:00 am at the La Roche College Magdalen Chapel, 9000 Babcock Boulevard, Pittsburgh, PA 15237.

In lieu of flowers, Hal has requested that donations in his memory be made to the Tahirih Justice Center.

Online condolences may be left at Copeland Funeral Home's tribute page.