Robert James Hawkins

SALISBURY — Robert James Hawkins, 88, a dedicated teacher of English to generations of Hotchkiss School students, died on Jan. 9, 2012, at Noble Horizons. “The Hawk,” as he was known affectionately on campus, taught at Hotchkiss from 1945 until his retirement in 1988 and had been a resident of Lakeville since 1945.Born in South Dakota on April 6, 1923, Robert Hawkins was the son of Lunetta and Frank Hawkins. He completed grade school and high school in Highmore, S.D., before beginning his studies at Trinity College in Hartford. At Trinity he excelled in English, French and Italian; he received honors in both English and Romance Languages at his graduation in 1945. After graduating from Trinity, Hawkins began teaching at Hotchkiss the following September. At first he taught both English and French. But after a fellowship in 1947-1948 at the University of Edinburgh, he taught only English. For an impressive 41 years, he gave his considerable energy and talents to the English department. He held the Independence Foundation Chair No. 2 from 1982 until his retirement in 1988. He was the author of “Preface to Poetry” (New York, Basic Books), published in 1965. In 1979, he published “The Kent Family Chronicles Encyclopedia: With Condensations of the John Jakes Novels and Essays About America from 1770-1877.”Hawkins was one of Hotchkiss’s most respected masters, remembered for his high expectations of his students, his strict yet fair discipline and his behind-the-scenes efforts to help struggling students. “He was very much an old-school schoolmaster in the sense that he believed very strongly in the discipline of learning,” said Hotchkiss alumnus Francis “Fay” Vincent of his mentor and friend. “He was a great man, and I loved him. He had a total commitment to excellence and the pursuit of clarity. It’s a wonderful art and no one at Hotchkiss ever stood higher, in my book, than Bob in his commitment to a superb paragraph.” Although Hawkins retired in 1988, he remained close to Hotchkiss, speaking to new faculty about the school’s history and assisting staff members in school offices by editing and proofreading their work. He attended All Saints of America Orthodox Christian Church in Salisbury and especially enjoyed its music and ritual. A lifelong lover of classical music, he was also an avid birder and studied wildflowers. An expert cook who followed Gourmet magazine and met its exacting standards, Hawkins often entertained friends at his home in Lakeville, serving up fabulous meals and lively conversation. An invitation to a Bob Hawkins party was much coveted.Robert Hawkins is survived by his sister, Helen Lynch of Kent, Wash.; and five nephews and one niece, Dean “Skip” Cline of Tega Cay, S.C., Ward Cline of Sioux Falls, S.D., Lynn Braman of Rapid City, S.D., Jeff Stingley of Sioux Falls, Jim Lynch of La Conner, Wash., and Ed Lynch of Kent, Wash. He was predeceased by his parents, Frank and Lunetta Hawkins; and his two sisters, Dorothy June and Betty. Members of the family expressed their deep gratitude for the excellent care given to him by hospice volunteers and the staff of Noble Horizons. Interment will take place at a private service. A memorial service will be held at The Hotchkiss School in June. Memorial gifts may be made to The Robert Hawkins Fund at Hotchkiss (faculty travel fund for study and enrichment) or the Faculty Scholarship Fund (endowed fund for student scholarships).

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