Roger Watkins

Roger "Doc" Watkins - July 21, 1948 to April 20, 2015 - only child of Edith (Mullins) and Lewis Watkins. Raised in Cambridge, Massachusetts - he graduated Ridge High School and enlisted U.S. Navy. He received his undergraduate degree from Boston State College and graduate degrees from Tufts University. To help all individuals experience a college education, Roger worked as the Assistant Director of Admissions at Boston University; the Director of the African American Center at Tufts University; Assistant Dean of Students at Lehigh University, Associate Dean of Students at Newbury College and Associate Director of Financial at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology until August 2014 when he retired. He was a past president of The Association of Black Admissions and Financial Aid Officers of the Ivy League and Sister Schools (ABAFAOILSS); a member of the MIT Quarter Century Club, NASFAA and MASFAA. He was an avid sailor, world class gardener; racquetball player, and skier before heart disease placed some limits on him. Yet it never slowed him down. After his triple bypass surgery in 1991, his doctors gave him ten years to live. Roger didn't like that answer, He fought valiantly to keep active physically and mentally. He kept riding his Honda Gold Wing motorcycle. He studied deafness communication and served as an interpreter; became a championship bowler; bottled beer which he gave to friends and family; took up golfing; made hot sauce and designed the labels; was in the first class of volunteers for the Florida Aquarium; built N-Scale model railroad trains; mastered tai chi; flew sport kites; bought a Harley Davidson; made unique sugar free ice cream and gelato; became a gourmet cook; rode his recumbent bike; learned wood carving; made chef aprons; was a creative photographer and last August purchase a jet ski. He had a joy for life that was untamed. He fought to live and created a full rich life. He is survived by his wife of thirty-one years, Dr. Pat Watkins, Director of Financial Aid at Eckerd College and Alexander H. Watkins, a Navy veteran and current student at Eckerd College.