Atwood “Woody” Collins III – 50th Reunion Essay

Atwood “Woody” Collins III

10020 Turtle Beach Rd.

North Palm Beach, Florida 33408

acollins@mtb.com

914-552-6730

Spouse(s): Cynthia Williams Collins (1971, 47 years)

Child(ren): Porter Collins (1975); Dwight Collins (1979)

Grandchild(ren): Porter Collins (2008); Caroline Collins (2010); James Collins (2010); Margaret (Greta) Collins (2012); Brynn Collins (2013); Timothy Collins (2015)

Education: Yale B.A. 1969

National Service: 1st Lt. US Army ‘69 – ‘72

Career: Banking Executive-JP Morgan (1972-88); M&T Bank (1988-2018)

Avocations: Golf, Boating

College: Timothy Dwight

The euphoria of my four “Bright College Years” was quickly vanquished when I received my draft notice six days after graduation. In retrospect, the three years I spent in the service helped define my life for the next 50 years more than my time in New Haven. The two takeaways of that experience were the discipline I acquired/earned and the ability to get along/work with people from all walks of life. These skills helped me immensely in my business career.

The disciplined process of writing this essay has made me reflect on my life in ways I haven’t had to. I have been very fortunate in having lived a very satisfying life. I have had a wonderful marriage, two very successful sons, and six wonderful grandchildren. I have loved my 46-year career as a banking executive and am now only semiretired.

I look back on my time at Yale with tremendous nostalgia. Nostalgia defined by the innocence of life back then, the thrill of learning and personal discovery as well as the making and bonding of lifelong friendships. The nostalgia of those friendships is even more acute as I lost my best friend and roommate, Walter Cummings, to cancer far too early. Similarly, Eric Johnson also died way too early. I miss them still as I reflect on all the crazy things we did as undergraduates and the freedom we had to do them. I am thankful that the friendship of my other two roommates, Bill Scranton and Dick Ebersol, has endured.

All of this reflection is food for the soul as it makes me appreciate all I have and experienced.

I look forward to seeing everybody next year. “Boola Boola”!