In my last year at Rochester, there was a steady stream of people in to pay last respects to one they truly respected. I turned down three opportunities to go see him, because I felt it wouldn't be right, since I hadn't known him in his prime. I can tell you though that figures as diverse as Linda Zagzebski and Alvin Goldman came through to pay their final respects, in each case Ed Weirenga facilitated the visits.
In my own case, my philosophizing has been dominated by four phases of Alston's work: 1. Deontogical justification, 2. Levels issues, 3. Combining aspects of internism and externalism, and 4. Pluralism about epistemic desiderata.
Only three other people have made anything like the kind of total contribution to my overall approach to epistemology. And those are all people I worked with very closely.
The result has been that it is not far from true to say that 99% of my epistemological theorizing has been significantly influenced by Alson, even though that theorizing has been quite far flung. Now matter where I went, his tracks were already there.
And of course he made signal contributions in the philosophy of language and philosophy of religion as well. And, what's more, the way he personally influenced multiple generations of philosophers--Al Plantinga, Peter van Inwagen, Dean Zimmerman, and Tom Senor just to name a few.
Losing him reminds me of the George Jones song "Who's gonna fill their shoes?" I know I can't, but perhaps if lots of us try we can collectivly fill a portion of the void.
William P. Alston. 1921-2009. Requiesat in Pace
UPDATE: I checked over at the Philosophy Family Tree and it states that the following individuals were Alston students (it usually indicates doctoral dissertations directed, but not always): Audi, Mavrodes, Wainwright, Rowe, and Dan Howard-Snyder.
UPDATE: Mike had previously posted the link to Dan Howard-Snyder's biography (which Keith DeRose also posted at Certain Doubts). Not sure where it went, but here's the link:
http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~howardd/alston/alstonforthoemmes.pdf
This is sad news. I spent the summer working through Epistemic Justification and finding it to be brilliant. I wish I had been old enough to get into the professional world and meet him in time.
I believe that John Hawthorne also studied with Alston; I remember him being acknowledged in Knowledge and Lotteries.
Also of note is Alston's spiritual autobiography in God and the Philosophers, which is his personal story of how he became a Christian. I found it to be educational and inspirational, and he became a role model for me. According to Christian belief, I'll still be able to meet William Alston some day!
John mainly worked with Jonathan Bennett and Peter van Inwagen. I think Alston was on his committee, and he certainly took classes with him.
I have yet to read Alston's work - I only read Daniel Howard-Snyder's chapter on Alston and like Andrew I am too young to be in the position of having worked with Alston (or having met him).
While those news are very sad, I do find comfort in the belief that the spirit carries on.
(This was supposed to go into the last comment as a link but it didn't work)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W70LZxzp2js
I'm saddened to hear of Bill Alston's passing, which is a bittersweet loss. I took one class with him and met informally with him as well during my time in the department at Syracuse. Daniel Howard-Snyder and Gregory Ganssle were among my classmates. I had heard that for brilliant minds, their religion never looks normal. I have observed that in the life of C.S. Lewis and several others, but it was Professor Alston's faith that nailed that belief most firmly for me, with his eccentricities born of genius. I am well assured that he has gone on to his reward, and am proud to have been his student.