DUXBURY, MA - Richard K. Winslow, a distinguished Science Editor at Newsweek and the New York Herald Tribune who later worked as an executive and editor at Doubleday and Walker Publishing in New York, died Thursday, January 7 in Plymouth, MA near his ancestral home in Duxbury. He was 88.
Mr. Winslow, a 1943 graduate of Harvard College, died from complications associated with heart disease at a Plymouth hospital after a brief illness. He had a life-long passion for liberal politics, public education, science, literature, sailing and family, according to his daughter Susan. "He had a long and rich life, well lived," she exclaimed.
Mr. Winslow was a direct descendent of Mayflower settlers Captain Myles Standish and Pilgrim Elder William Brewster. He was born on June 4, 1921 in Boston, grew up in Brookline and Duxbury and was educated at the Park School and Roxbury Latin before enrolling at Harvard where he earned an AB in History.
During World War II, Mr. Winslow spent four years as an intercept and decipher specialist in the U.S. Army Signal Corps at the Vint Hill Farms base near Warrenton, VA.
Mr. Winslow joined the Herald Tribune as a copy boy after the war and worked as a general assignment reporter, science writer and science editor before returning to service in the Korean conflict where he worked in the office of the undersecretary of the Army at the Pentagon.
In 1949, Mr. Winslow met Marjorie Shreeve, then a fashion editor at Mademoiselle. She recalled: "The first time I saw him was at a late night cocktail party at my apartment on Park Avenue. He looked about 10 feet tall. And he was so thin!" They married in 1950 in Manhattan and recently celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary. The Winslows raised three children in their Riverdale, NY home where they lived for 39 years before retiring to spend time in Duxbury and Mesa, AZ.
Mr. Winslow was the Science Editor at Newsweek from 1952-1957, penning an 11th hour cover story at the end of his tenure there on the surprise launch of the Sputnik satellite considered by historians to be the opening salvo in the space race between the U.S and Soviet Union.
Mr. Winslow spent the remainder of his career as a book editor, publisher and documentary film producer at Doubleday, Ealing Corp. and Walker Publishing. He edited the non-fiction work of many notable authors including science fiction award winner Isaac Asimov, who was also a prolific science writer.
In retirement at the family home in Duxbury, Mr. Winslow, a life-long horticulturist, sailed, gardened, managed a family Christmas tree farm, read books, periodicals and newspapers and remained passionate about politics.
Mr. Winslow is survived by his wife Marjorie, a sister, Mary Heath Winslow of Cambridge, MA, daughters Susan Winslow of Rapidan, VA, Kate Winslow of Washington, VT, a son, Henry Winslow of Kingston, MA and four grandchildren. He is predeceased by sisters Eleanor Crocker of Princeton, NJ and Sylvia Burnham of Brookline, MA.
Memorial Service will be held in Duxbury in Mid June. Cremation in Vine Hills Crematory.
Mr. Winslow, a 1943 graduate of Harvard College, died from complications associated with heart disease at a Plymouth hospital after a brief illness. He had a life-long passion for liberal politics, public education, science, literature, sailing and family, according to his daughter Susan. "He had a long and rich life, well lived," she exclaimed.
Mr. Winslow was a direct descendent of Mayflower settlers Captain Myles Standish and Pilgrim Elder William Brewster. He was born on June 4, 1921 in Boston, grew up in Brookline and Duxbury and was educated at the Park School and Roxbury Latin before enrolling at Harvard where he earned an AB in History.
During World War II, Mr. Winslow spent four years as an intercept and decipher specialist in the U.S. Army Signal Corps at the Vint Hill Farms base near Warrenton, VA.
Mr. Winslow joined the Herald Tribune as a copy boy after the war and worked as a general assignment reporter, science writer and science editor before returning to service in the Korean conflict where he worked in the office of the undersecretary of the Army at the Pentagon.
In 1949, Mr. Winslow met Marjorie Shreeve, then a fashion editor at Mademoiselle. She recalled: "The first time I saw him was at a late night cocktail party at my apartment on Park Avenue. He looked about 10 feet tall. And he was so thin!" They married in 1950 in Manhattan and recently celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary. The Winslows raised three children in their Riverdale, NY home where they lived for 39 years before retiring to spend time in Duxbury and Mesa, AZ.
Mr. Winslow was the Science Editor at Newsweek from 1952-1957, penning an 11th hour cover story at the end of his tenure there on the surprise launch of the Sputnik satellite considered by historians to be the opening salvo in the space race between the U.S and Soviet Union.
Mr. Winslow spent the remainder of his career as a book editor, publisher and documentary film producer at Doubleday, Ealing Corp. and Walker Publishing. He edited the non-fiction work of many notable authors including science fiction award winner Isaac Asimov, who was also a prolific science writer.
In retirement at the family home in Duxbury, Mr. Winslow, a life-long horticulturist, sailed, gardened, managed a family Christmas tree farm, read books, periodicals and newspapers and remained passionate about politics.
Mr. Winslow is survived by his wife Marjorie, a sister, Mary Heath Winslow of Cambridge, MA, daughters Susan Winslow of Rapidan, VA, Kate Winslow of Washington, VT, a son, Henry Winslow of Kingston, MA and four grandchildren. He is predeceased by sisters Eleanor Crocker of Princeton, NJ and Sylvia Burnham of Brookline, MA.
Memorial Service will be held in Duxbury in Mid June. Cremation in Vine Hills Crematory.
