Charles Arthur Winters

Charles Arthur Winters, 77, passed away at his home in Northampton, MA on Jan. 16 after a long battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

A passionate advocate for public schools, a steadfast father, doting grandfather, beloved brother, loyal friend and a pretty smart cookie who could finish the Saturday New York Times crossword puzzle in the time it will take you to read his obituary, Charles leaves a lasting impression in our hearts.

He was born in Chicago to Cliff and Ruth Winters, where he and his brother, Tobey, lived until they moved to Des Moines, Iowa and then to Syracuse, NY, following the path of his father's moves from the University of Chicago, Drake and Syracuse Universities. Cliff and Ruth instilled in Charles a love of books and jazz, a tendency toward political engagement, and a mischievous sense of humor.

Charles attended Nottingham High School in Syracuse, NY. A gifted artist and a shy kid, he had the good fortune to be seated across from outgoing Justine Cobb in a Nottingham art class when the teacher assigned students to draw portraits of their neighbors. Charles and Justine would go on to marry in 1968 and remain virtually inseparable until her death in 2006. Some of their best times were summers spent on Mount Desert Island in Maine with family and friends, where Charles would build crowd-pleasing sand castles and ride his bike around Acadia National Park, often with a daughter in the baby seat.

Charles studied English at Syracuse University, where he explored literature beyond his early but enduring interest in science fiction. His love of art took a formal turn during a semester abroad in Florence, Italy. Upon graduation from Syracuse, Charles began working with teens from low-income families at the Neighborhood Youth Corps, an experience that would set the stage for a career defined by championing young people. He held administrative roles at the Cazenovia Central School District, Mahopac Central School District and Newburgh City School District, all in New York State. In the final decades of his career, he worked as a school finance consultant, helping more than 20 public school districts direct more money to their pupils, and he taught courses in school finance as a professor at SUNY New Paltz.

Charles approached life with curiosity and gusto, from discussing philosophy to extolling the virtues of a perfect snack. He nurtured his love of art throughout his life, composing daily cartoons on napkins he tucked into his daughters' lunchboxes and participating in the Northampton Senior Center's Art Buffet in his retirement. If you received a Christmas card from him at one point over the last 50 years, you are the proud owner of a Charles Winters original.

Charles is survived by his daughters, Amy Winters Champoux of Northampton, MA and Rebecca Winters Keegan of Los Angeles, CA; granddaughter Katie Justine Champoux of Northampton, MA; brothers Tobey Winters of West Simsbury, CT, Timothy Winters of Arlington, VA and Ben Winters of Winston-Salem, NC; nieces and nephews John "Skip" Hyde of Darien, CT, Stacey Hyde of Canisteo, NY, Benjamin Winters of Boston, MA and Nicholas Winters of Calgary, AL; son-in-law David Champoux, of Northampton, MA and sister-in-law Margery Winters of West Simsbury, CT.

Charles's family and friends will get together at Rough Draft Bar and Books in Kingston, NY on
Sunday, April 28th from 2 to 4:30 to raise a glass, swap stories, and say goodbye. Family will also gather August 18 at 2pm for a service at Seal Harbor Cemetery in Seal Harbor, Maine. In lieu of sending flowers, his family invites you to make a donation to Charles's favorite news source, WAMC Northeast Public Radio, or the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.