Winthrop R. Adkins ’55

Win was born Oct. 25, 1932, in Beirut, Lebanon, to his missionary parents, Edwin Sanderson and Dr. Leslie John Adkins. He died July 17, 2015, from complications following lung surgery at age 82.

Matriculating from Andover, Win majored in modern languages in the SPEC program and joined Quadrangle. He roomed in Blair Tower with McCarty, Hochstein, Lauer, Young, Matt, Lynn, McConnell, and Slack. Described as a “quintessential teacher of life,” Win received his doctorate in counseling psychology in 1963 from Teachers College, Columbia University.

Working incessantly and involved in far too many activities to recount here, Win’s signature achievement was the Adkins Life Skills Program, a successful and nationally known program. An inspired and passionate teacher, Win was concerned always with social and economic justice and with making a real difference in the world. He was a “force of life” who dignified all he met and made them feel special.

Always so much fun to be with, he was a loving husband, father, brother, and uncle to his family. Win is survived by his wife, Caroline; son Jason; daughter Jennifer; five grandchildren; brother Douglas; former wife Susan Fisher; and many nieces and nephews.