Dr. Donald Washburn,89

DONALD EDWARD WASHBURN

1932—2021

Obituary June 28, 2021

Dr. Donald E. Washburn, beloved father, grandfather, poet and professor, died peacefully at his home in North Adams, Massachusetts on June 17. He was 89 years of age.

Don is survived by his daughter Laurie Wiggins, and his sons, Jarrod (Jed) Washburn of West Newbury, Massachusetts, and Justin Washburn of Williamstown. He is also survived by his son-in-law Douglas Wiggins; his daughters-in-law Sarah Powers and Joy Washburn; as well as by seven grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his fourth wife Beverly Washburn, his brother Kenneth Washburn, and his son, Edward (Ned) Washburn. An incurable romantic—and eternal optimist—Don was married five times, and is survived by his former wives Nancy Ahern, Willie Tokarz of North Adams, Ellen Abbott of North Adams, and Judy Washburn of Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

Don was born on June 14, 1932, in Neptune, New Jersey, son of the late Albert and Sylvia Washburn of Easton, Pennsylvania. A top student at Easton High School, Don served as student body president and was a star player on the Easton High varsity football team. Accepted to Yale University on an athletic scholarship, he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English in 1954, and a Master of Arts in Teaching in 1955. In 1962, he received his Ph.D. in Communications from the University of Denver.

Don began his college teaching career in Pennsylvania, first at Edinboro University, then at East Stroudsburg University. In 1971, he accepted a tenured position in the English department at the Massachusetts College of the Liberal Arts in North Adams, serving multiple terms as chairman, and retired from teaching in 2014. During his 43-year career at MCLA, Don was one of the college’s most admired and sought-after professors, teaching an extraordinary range of courses—everything from speech, business writing and composition, to unique, custom-crafted courses exploring the nexus of literature, philosophy and spirituality.

was a gifted and accomplished poet, publishing three volumes of poetry with the Poet’s Press: The Boy From Under the Trees (1986), In the Eye of the Red-Tailed Hawk (2009) and Prayer Beads (2016). Many of ’s poems were deeply personal, including two exquisite sonnets he composed in 2013: one for the memorial service of his eldest son, Ned, and the other for the wedding of his second son, Jed.

Don was a profoundly spiritual man, and explored many faiths and belief systems in his life-long pursuit of divine truth. Studying the Eastern mystical religion of Sufism for many years, Don became a Sufi spiritual guide and often led Universal Worship services at the Abode of the Message in New Lebanon, New York. Later in life, he returned to his Protestant roots and joined the First Congregational Church of North Adams.

Always creative and curious, Don’s hobbies and interests were many, including digital music composition, computer programming, and model building: constructing train sets, slot-car tracks, and a custom-designed, hand-built, fully-operational model baseball game. He dabbled in astrology and politics—running for Massachusetts state auditor on the Libertarian ticket in 1982—and was a devoted fan of classical music and the Boston Celtics. Don was also an avid animal lover, at one time having a menagerie that included two Shelties, two rabbits, 13 lovebirds, two cockatiels and a long-haired cat.

Known for his wry humor and razor-sharp wit, Don enjoyed wordplay of all kinds, quipping many a groan-worthy pun. A true “gentleman and a scholar,” Don was both a deep thinker and a captivating raconteur. He fell in love with books at a young age, and his passion for language and learning lasted throughout his long, well-lived life.

In two of the final poems in his third book, “Prayer Beads,” Don looked back on his life:

I do not stand voiceless and noncommittal,

who have enough words for every wild weather.

And if a truth should rise up, after all,

well, your truth and mine will dance together.

Ask me what I’ve come to. This is it.

And looked ahead, as well, to what awaited him:

Then we will grasp your hand and confirm

The promise of that solemn covenant,

wherein our quotidian intentions turn

to purest light, and heaven to earth is bent.

Coming among us, make eternity your gift.

A service for Don has not been announced at this time, but donations in his memory can be made to the Ned Washburn Memorial Scholarship Fund at Good Hope Country Day School in St. Croix—R.R. 1, P.O. Box 6199, Kingshill, USVI 00850. To add to the Book of Memories, please visit www.flynndagnolifuneralhomes.com.