TRIBUTE TO DR. E. WAYNE WILKINS ’37

Dr. Wilkins’ last visit to The Albany Academy, October 2020

A Tribute to Dr. E. Wayne Wilkins Jr. ’37

The world was a very different place eight-plus decades ago when E. Wayne Wilkins Jr. ’37 walked the halls of The Albany Academy. During his time at the school in the early 20th century, Wayne experienced many firsts: witnessing Gov. Franklin D. Roosevelt lay the cornerstone on November 21, 1929, being introduced to his first radio, and being a member of the first class to have completed the entire Upper School course in the new Academy building. Some of his classmates were never able to realize their academic dreams due to the Great Depression and many others made great sacrifices during World War II.

Wayne said The Albany Academy laid the foundation for the success he enjoyed in life and his legacy gift, given to the school after his death in December 2020, reflected his appreciation of and fondness for the school. A portion of that gift supported the recently completed renovations on campus that allowed for the creation of the Early Childhood Center. We are extremely grateful to Wayne for the gift and offer our sympathy to his family and friends.

At the time of his death, he was 101 years old. His last days were in keeping with all his days: uncommonly attentive to others, and driven to get the very most out of life. In fact, shortly before his death, Wayne came for one last visit to The Albany Academy and met with Chief Advancement Officer Ann Wendth. Wayne grew up in Rensselaer, N.Y., and after graduating from The Albany Academy he went on to Williams College, where he majored with honors in chemistry, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude. While at Williams he also played varsity football and baseball, and served as president of both his class and his fraternity — setting up a lifetime relationship with the college that spanned nearly 84 years and included service as a dedicated member of the board of trustees and president of the Society of Alumni.

A graduate of Harvard Medical School in 1944, he served shortly thereafter in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific before launching his 40-year career. Nearly all of his career was spent in Boston as a prominent thoracic surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he also served as chief of emergency services and a member of the faculty at Harvard Medical School.

His work ethic, self-discipline, deep commitment to his students and the wellbeing of his patients, and the pride he took in his work were at the core of a number of his professional innovations — from esophageal surgery to the airlifting of trauma patients — and formed the energy behind his appeal as a highly sought after teacher and mentor.

During his retirement years in Williamstown he teamed up with his late beloved wife of 75 years, Suzanne (“Suki”), in an array of service projects all over the Berkshires, for which they would share the 2004 Williamstown Community Chest Good Citizen Award. He also held a number of leadership positions during those years — with the Williamstown Library, as president of the Taconic Golf Club, as a trustee of the Village Ambulance Service, and as co-chair of the former North Adams Regional Hospital’s Capital Care Campaign.

We are tremendously grateful to Dr. Wayne Wilkins for the legacy gift he provided to the Academies. His name is proudly displayed in our Early Childhood Center.