Arthur Elkins of Amherst, MA passed away peacefully on June 8, 2021 with family by his side.  He was 85 years old.  Art was born February 12, 1936 to the late Samuel and Faye (Chessler) Elkins in Lynn, Massachusetts.  He attended Lynn Classical High School and graduated from the University of Massachusetts in 1957.  He earned an MBA from Columbia University and a PhD from Indiana University in 1967. 

In 1968, Art began a 20 year tenure at the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts which included chairing the Department of Management, Associate Dean of the Business School and membership on the Athletic Council and leading University Without Walls.  He wrote 2 text books that were cornerstones of the management program at the University for many years.  His love of education inspired many endowed scholarships for first generation high school students at the Northfield Mount Hermon School, Amherst High School and Lynn Classical High School

Art retired from the University in 1988 to begin a second career with his wife Barbara running WEBS – America’s Yarn Store.  Together they grew the business Barbara started in the basement of the family home into a very successful enterprise, embracing change many times and creating a long lasting legacy in the yarn world.  Art and Barbara passed the company to the next generation of Elkins in 2002.  He continued to work supporting many of its most important customers until recently.

A lifelong love of classical music culminated with a recent tenure on the Board of Directors of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra. 

Art was the loving husband of Barbara (Perry) Elkins for over 60 years.  He was predeceased by his brother Sumner and son Michael.  He leaves his wife Barbara, his son Steve and daughter in law Kathy Elkins of South Deerfield, MA, daughter in law Futaba Elkins of New Jersey, grandsons Jackson and Jonathan Elkins and a large extended family.  He will be dearly missed. 

A graveside service is planned for today, Friday June 11 at 2 PM at the Wildwood Cemetery, Amherst.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Michael J Elkins ’80 Scholarship Fund, Northfield Mount Hermon School, 1 Lamplighter Way, Mount Hermon, MA 01354. Memorial  guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com