William Davis Lehman
William (Will) Davis Lehman, born Feb. 2, 1983 in New Iberia, Louisiana, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 in Eugene, Oregon from aggressive asymptomatic colon cancer. Will spent his final months and days surrounded and supported by his parents Dale and Gail Lehman, brother Shyloh Wideman, and other loving family and friends from across the U.S.
Will grew up in Chicago, close to his father’s parents, William and Anita Lehman, and spent summers with his mother’s parents, Davis and Mary Johnson, at their family cabin in Inlet, New York.
A graduate of Whitney Young Magnet High School (2000) and University of Iowa (2004), he established his chosen family and excelled in film studies before building a successful career as a film editor in New York City, along with most of his chosen family (Dan Fridman, Ryan Garrett, Claire Chandler, Nick McLemore, and Arthur Jongewaard). There, he had an open-door policy and would regularly host, talking politics, showing films, listening to music and laughing.
In NYC, Will met Emily Dinan and moved with her to Eugene, marrying her on May 2, 2018. After moving around Oregon, they moved to Saranac Lake, New York, welcoming their daughter, Clementine Catamount Lehman, on July 25, 2022. Clem was the light and joy of Will’s life. Will separated from Emily in mid-2025, his first priority to provide a nurturing environment for Clem and himself, which he continued to provide until his final days after returning to Eugene.
As editor or contributing editor, Will was part of numerous award-winning films, including “The Yes Men Are Revolting,” “Meru,” “The Wound and The Gift,” “Things Left Behind” and “From the Ground Up.” Inspired by Robert Fitch’s “The Assassination of New York,” Will co-directed and co-produced the feature documentary “The Iron Triangle: Willets Point and the Remaking of New York” in 2017 about a community of immigrant small business owners fighting to save their American dream. In his later years, Will worked as a video editor for Paramount, bringing “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” “The Daily Show” and other productions to the small screen.
Will is survived by his parents, brother and daughter; numerous uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews; chosen family; and loving friends. May his memory be a blessing to all who were fortunate enough to be part of his life, so tragically cut short.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Will’s name to the Saranac Lake Free Library.