CHARLES DESSAU ATKINSON III

ATKINSON, Charles Dessau III Died peacefully, at his home in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on June 9, 2025, after a long struggle with the after effects of a serious bout with West Nile Virus and a more recent cancer diagnosis. The son of Charles Dessau Atkinson, Jr. and Mary "Polly" Gavin Atkinson, Charlie was born in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1935. As a child, he lived in Waynesboro, Virginia, Salt Lake City, Utah, Fairfield, Connecticut, Short Hills, New Jersey and Wilmington, Delaware, where he attended the Tower Hill School. Charlie graduated from Harvard College in 1958, where he was active as business manager for The Harvard Advocate and rowed on the Harvard Varsity Crew. Significantly, during his senior year he was inspired by an introductory course in behavioral psychology offered by legendary Professor B.F. Skinner. His tour of duty in the peacetime military was spent at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where he served as gunnery instructor, and built the M-1 Teaching Machine as an instructional tool, based on Skinner's theory of operant conditioning. Charlie then returned to Harvard and worked as a teaching assistant for Dr. Skinner while completing a doctoral program in education, focused on research in instruction. The work they did together influenced him throughout his life. During the 1960s, Charlie also cofounded Basic Systems, a company devoted to programmed instruction. At the end of the decade, Basic Systems was acquired by the Xerox corporation. Charlie Atkinson's career as a forward-thinking entrepreneur had begun. Although some of his projects and companies were in other areas: conference centers, aerospace photography, and temporary tattoos, most were related to the development of training materials for the healthcare industry. Charlie was inspired by research that explored the ways in which individuals differed in their approach to life and learning, and also how those differences are centered in different parts of the brain. Charlie's ultimate pursuit was to develop a system that leveraged a person's unique goals and thinking preferences in order to enhance their creativity, memory, and productivity. He was an inspirational leader and gifted mentor. He brought out the best in people as he included them on his teams and inspired them with his creative ideas and personal dynamism. Many young colleagues went on to form successful companies of their own. Charlie had a robust zest for life. He loved to host gatherings, large and small, with plenty of dancing, singing, and toasts. He often played show tunes and "oldies" on the piano, and encouraged everyone to sing along. He eagerly built friendships out of chance acquaintances, and learned the basics of French, Turkish and Chinese to connect with people. He was a tennis enthusiast and a loyal, active member of the Harvard Advocate, the Cambridge Tennis Club, the Badminton and Tennis Club, the Fly Club, and the Dublin Lake Club. In 2012, Charlie contracted West Nile virus. He spent fourteen months in the hospital, followed by another year recovering at home. Thanks to his optimism and sheer determination, along with the help of dedicated doctors, physical therapists, and other caregivers, Charlie emerged with his drive and creativity intact. He was eventually able to return to many of the activities he loved. Charlie is survived by Jeannette, his wife of 64 years; children, Helen Atkinson-Barnes (Frank), Sam (Charles, IV) Atkinson (Tess), Tom Atkinson (Katharine), Tuyet Jones (Jarad); grandchildren, Caleb, Elise, Margaret, Liam, Grey, Sam Patrick, Chloe, Madeleine, and Lydia; and step-grandchildren, Sophie, Tad, Sawyer, and Mason. A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, August 21, at 11:00 a.m., at Mt. Auburn Cemetery, in Cambridge.