Linda Lockwood Stansmore, 73, retired associate professor in Environmental Sciences and former director of the Honors program at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, died Nov. 15 from Alzheimer’s disease at her home in Sunderland.
Born in New York City, she attend the Bolton School (now Greens Farms Academy) in Westport, CT and went on to Columbia University, where she received her B.S. in 1960. She earned her M.A. from Columbia University Teachers College in 1965 and a Ph.D. in botany in 1969 from Columbia University Graduate Faculty of Pure Science.
From 1962-69, she was an instructor in the science honors program at Columbia and from 1969-73, she was an assistant professor of science education at Columbia University Teachers College.
She joined the Environmental Sciences faculty at the University of Massachusetts at Amherstas as an associate professor in 1973 and taught basic interdisciplinary courses in environmental science education and techniques, ecology and biology. A friend from the Bolton School writes, "She used to design her vegetable garden during classes, so it was no surprise to find her with plants and soil as a vocation."
In 1982, she was named the part-time director of the Honors Program and led its expansion from the liberal arts to include all of the campus’s professional schools, including engineering and business. The program also opened to first-year students and tripled its number of participants to nearly 600 students. She was appointed as the full-time director in 1985 and served until 1992, when she stepped down to return to teaching.
As a faculty member, she served on the executive board of the Massachusetts Society of Professors from 1982-84 and in the Faculty Senate from 1979-82.
Among her many achievements, Linda was a concert pianist and gave many performances. She was active in numerous organizations and programs dedicated to preserving the environment on local and international levels.
She leaves her husband, William Stansmore and her stepdaughter daughter Kathy, who she inspired to go to Columbia Medical School and Harvard University, where she became a cardiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Linda was an inspiration to her students and all who knew her. She will be sorely missed.