Stanford Report, Jan. 28, 2004

Watkins led European tours for students

BY BARBARA PALMER

Elise V. Gettier Watkins, who organized and led travel tours for students and campus art supporters for three decades, died Jan. 11 at her home in Palo Alto. Watkins, 89, was the widow of political science Professor James Watkins IV, who died in 1982.

Watkins was born in Baltimore on June 17, 1914, and graduated from Smith College in 1936. She studied at the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva, Switzerland, where she met James Watkins IV. The couple were married in 1938 and moved to Palo Alto in 1946.

Watkins soon began escorting groups of Stanford students to Europe. In the 1950s, one of the student travelers, Eleanor Friar of Palo Alto, after her graduation teamed up with Watkins to organize and lead summer student tours.

Watkins "was a walking encyclopedia. She had a photographic memory and I think she remembered everything that she had ever read since she first opened a book," said Friar. Watkins' expertise went far beyond standard travel information and included extensive knowledge of history and philosophy, Friar said. "She was sort of a frustrated teacher." On tours and at her home in Palo Alto, where Watkins entertained generations of Stanford students, "there were always people around her," Friar said.

Watkins later worked at Sequoia Travel Center at Tresidder Union, where she organized and led tours for the Committee for Art at Stanford (now the Cantor Arts Center Membership). After Sequoia Travel Center closed in 1985, Watkins was a founder of Watkins Ward Travel in Palo Alto. She retired at age 85. The last tour she led was a trip to France, Friar said.

A memorial service will be held at the Faculty Club at 4 p.m. on March 3.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the James T. Watkins IV and Elise V. Watkins Professorship in the School of Humanities and Sciences. Contributions may be sent to the Office of Development, 326 Galvez St., Stanford, CA 94305-6105. Memorial gifts also may be made to the Elizabeth Gamble Garden Center, 1431 Waverly St., Palo Alto, CA 94301.

Elise V. Gettier Watkins