Stephen Wilkins Jenkins

1952 - 2021

Stephen Wilkins Jenkins
March 31, 1952 - December 26, 2021
Boulder, Colorado - Steve Jenkins, a passionate and gifted children's book author, illustrator, and graphic designer passed away unexpectedly the day after Christmas from a splenic artery aneurysm.
Born in Hickory, NC, Son of Alvin Wilkins Jenkins, Jr., a physics and astronomy professor, and Margaret Wade Anderson, a banking administrator, his father's teaching positions moved them to Virginia, Kansas, California, and North Carolina.
He graduated from Jesse O. Sanderson High School, Raleigh, NC, ('70) and received his Bachelor's Degree of Visual Design ('74) and his Master's Degree ('76) from the School of Design, North Carolina State University.
In 1978 he moved to New York City where he worked for the renowned design firm, Chermayeff & Geismar. During this time he also worked independently as an illustrator and began what became his trademark method of using cut and torn paper for his illustrations.
In 1982, he founded the design studio, Jenkins & Page Associates with his wife Robin Page and in 1994 they moved to Boulder, CO, where the studio continues today.
He has written, illustrated, and designed over 80 mostly nonfiction picture books, many co-created with his wife, Robin. Steve focused his considerable gifts on children and believed that science and truthful information would transform their lives. He shared his appreciation of the natural world with them through stunning, intricate, and sometimes surprisingly simple, illustrations with humor and grace.
His books have been translated into 19 languages and braille. He received dozens of honors and awards, including the prestigious Caldecott Honor for What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? in 2004. He and his wife have lectured at schools and libraries and conducted workshops around the country and the world.
He enthusiastically – and inspirationally for those that knew him – spent time outdoors, enjoying camping, trail and marathon running, biking, and he was an exceptional alpine skier.
Steve was a loving son, husband, father, brother, and friend. He will be missed.
He is survived by his wife, Robin Page, daughter Page and husband Andy Scott, son Alec and partner Zoe Shuchter, of Boulder, CO, and son, Jamie, of Lake Tahoe, his mother, Margaret of Longmont, CO, and brother Jeffrey and partner Rebecca Purcell, of New York, NY. His father passed away in 2010.
There are no plans for a service at this time.