Wilson M. Hopkins Jr. ’55

Wilson Hopkins, appreciative husband and patriot father who influenced his sons and some students to serve in the military, was born the son of Wilson Hopkins in Newton, N.J., May 12, 1933.

Bill graduated from Asbury Park (N.J.) High School and majored in biology at Princeton. He joined Cloister and roomed at 511 Cuyler Hall. Bill began medical school, but decided to become a Navy pilot. From 1957 to 1963, he was a bombardier navigator and pilot.

For more than 30 years, Bill taught science, astronomy, chemistry, physics, biology, earth science, and land surveying in various secondary schools. Founder of the Private Pilot Ground School at Staples High School in Westport, Conn., Bill was active in the program for 25 years. For 10 years he was an FAA written text examiner.

In 2002, Bill married Elsie, the light of his life, his travel companion all over the world, and his support for the 10 years he battled Parkinson’s disease, which claimed his life
May 24, 2013.