Victor Kennicott Atkins Jr.

Victor Kennicott Atkins Jr.
04/14/2025
Victor Kennicott Atkins, Jr. passed away at home in Reno, Nevada, on April 14, 2025. He was
80 years old. Born in Seattle, Washington, on February 8, 1945, Victor was raised in San Francisco and attended the Town School before enrolling at Middlesex School in Concord, Massachusetts. He graduated with high honors in 1963, and years later, a commemorative plaque bearing one of his favorite quotes-"Illegitimi Non Carborundum," meaning "Don't let the bastards get you down"-was placed on a building in his honor, reflecting his drive and determination in life. He continued his education at Harvard University, earning a degree in English and graduating cum laude in 1967. At Harvard, Victor was a proud member of the Fox Club, the Hasty Pudding Club, and the Institute of 1770. After graduation, Victor served as a U.S. Navy officer during the Vietnam War. He brought to the military the same sense of duty and focus that marked his academic life, and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V", the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, and several unit commendations. He rarely spoke of these honors, preferring instead to express pride in the men he served alongside.
In 1972, Victor earned his MBA from Harvard Business School, graduating with high distinction
as a George F. Baker Scholar. He began his finance career in New York at Blyth & Company
and later became Senior Vice President at E.F. Hutton. He went on to lead several businesses,
including Polaris Industries, where he served as Chairman and helped guide the company
through a successful NYSE listing. In later years, he focused on private investments, a career
that gave him the freedom to support the institutions and causes he cared most deeply about. Victor gave generously to the people and institutions that shaped him. He remained a devoted supporter of Middlesex School, endowing the Atkins Athletic Center, the Elizabeth Atkins Field House, and the Atkins House dormitory. He also gave to Harvard University, the University of Oxford's 1610 Society, and numerous museums and hospitals, including the Nevada Museum of Art, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, and Renown and Cottage Hospitals. His giving was never performative-it reflected a quiet belief in investing in things that were important to him. Victor was a lover of tradition, an avid reader, an art enthusiast, a raconteur, a man who knew his wine and his history in equal measure, and truly one of a kind. He was a lifelong sportsman and a firm believer in the value of club ties-both literal and figurative. He was a life member of The Brook and the Southampton Club, a member of the Pacific-Union Club, Bohemian Club, Birnam Wood Golf Club, Valley Club of Montecito, Santa Barbara Yacht Club, and Montreux Golf and Country Club, among others.
He is survived by his wife, Victoria Ramsay Atkins; his stepdaughters, Margaret, Lucia, and
Elizabeth Hartmann; his brother, William T. Atkins; his sister, Abigail Atkins; and his nieces and nephew, Marie, Katherine, Tess, and Victor. Victor will be remembered as a principled leader, a generous benefactor, a man devoted to his family, and a loyal friend. He'll also be remembered as a straight-shooter-never one to mince words. His family often joked, "Victor, tell us what you really think"-a line that always got a laugh, since anyone who knew him knew he already had. A private celebration of his life will be held at a later date.