Deceased September 1, 2015

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50th Reunion Book Entry 

In Memory

Win, scholar and friend, died in Concord, Mass., Sept. 1, 2015. He leaves his wife, Sarah; their three children and six grandchildren; and his brother, Peter Gage Hindle ’56.

Win grew up in South Dartmouth, Mass., graduated with honors from Deerfield Academy and enjoyed a distinguished career at Amherst: He majored in physics, lettered in squash and golf, sang in the glee club, was president of Alpha Delta Phi, was a junior Phi Bete and graduated magna cum laude.

He received his M.B.A. from MIT’s Sloan School in 1954, met and married Sarah and served for three years as an officer in the U.S. Navy Supply Corps.  

He concluded his estimable professional career of 32 years as SVP, operations, with Digital Equipment Corp. in Maynard, Mass. His “retirement” was no less significant; he served 21 years on the Emerson Hospital board of directors and 26 as a trustee, and also a chair, of the Wheaton College board.

Win was an ardent card player—cribbage, anyone?—golfer, music lover and Gilbert & Sullivan devotee. He would draw on his encyclopedic knowledge of G&S to sing selections from various operettas on long drives, in the shower and when awake at night. He accumulated an impressive collection of antique clocks, which filled his Concord home with bells and chimes. Within the family, he was also known for his lengthy, wide-ranging graces at meal times.

He and Sarah loved to travel, often with their extended family. They summered in their beloved Siasconset on Nantucket where they regularly played their favorite golf course, Sankaty Head.

Highly respected and remembered for his wry and quiet sense of humor, his integrity, his curious mind and his fellowship, he will be missed with affectionate memories.

Gordon Hall ’52
Jack Vernon ’52

50th Reunion
Winston Hindle

Amherst was a major turning point in my life. In addition to the mixture of humanities and science, I learned a lot of truths that my relatively sheltered, conservative past had never revealed. A couple of these revelations were that there were at least two sides to Important questions and that there were a multitude of people who were as smart or smarter than I was. All of this learning convinced me that I should use my strong interest in science, add some business education, and work in a technology­ based organization.

Eight years after Amherst, following a Master's Degree from MIT's Sloan School of Management, a Washington, DC stint In the Navy, and an administrative job back at MIT, I joined five-year-old Digital Equipment Corporation, where I spent the next 32 years working directly for the founder, Ken Olsen. The computer industry in the 60's, 70's and SO's was on a growth curve that wouldn't quit Of course, we had to have the products people wanted, and Digital did during those three decades.

Though I had line management jobs, my most important contributions to the company came in encouraging the "open culture" that attracted so many young people to Digital. The company was a strongly merit-based, on-hierarchical organization heavily focused on making profit on every product Unfortunately in the 90's we made some poor product choices that sent the company into a financial tailspin, and much of that open environment disappeared with the massive lay-offs. Needless to say, my first 28 years were a lot more fun than the final four.

I retired in 1994 and found that both the up and the down years had given me the perspective needed to join the Boards of several public companies and non-profit organizations. It has proven to be a very satisfying way to cap off a business life that I loved. In addition, I had hoped that retirement would give me time to improve on my favorite sport - golf. Much to my chagrin, my handicap has gone up.

My working years would not have been possible without Sarah, my wonderful wife of 46 years. While I "toiled in the vineyards," she nurtured our three children through their early years. We now enjoy them as adults as they nurture our six grandchildren. For years we have spent our summers on Nantucket and now delight in having the family gather there. The joy we get from sharing with children and grandchildren is quite special and emphasizes to us the importance of strong family ties in this fast­ paced world.

My involvement in the non-profit world has been particularly satisfying. I have been a Trustee of Wheaton College (Mass.) for 24 years and served as Board Chair for the ten years following our decision to go co-ed. It was dicey for awhile, but has turned out to be the right decision. I am also an active Board member of our local hospital and have had to grapple with the ever-changing healthcare system - the problems in this sector are enormous and not close to being fixed.