Elaine Perry Atkins

Elaine Perry Atkins died on October 17, 2024, in Ponte Vedra, Florida. She was 95 years old. Distinguished by her bright and curious mind, generosity and wry sense of humor, Elaine lived a remarkable life. 

Born in Manhattan on July 16, 1929, Elaine was the only child of Terese Carneval and Gray Perry. She grew up in New York and attended Spence and the Gardner School. She earned her bachelor’s degree in history from Vassar College in 1950. Vassar infused Elaine with an insatiable appetite for learning. 

Elaine married Edwin F. “Ted” Atkins in 1951. Shortly thereafter, Ted began a career in the foreign service that spanned 30 years and included posts in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. Elaine’s natural charm and conviviality proved invaluable on the diplomatic circuit where she helped Ted develop important professional relationships that advanced American interests. Elaine embraced the diverse cultures they encountered, cultivating her interests in history, politics, art, and architecture. 

Elaine and Ted shared a deep connection to Nantucket Island. They both summered on the island as children and eventually built a home there. Elaine loved returning each summer and reconnecting with lifelong friends. In her later years, she spent summers in ‘Sconset with her children and grandchildren, accompanied by her devoted terrier, Fritz. Elaine was a member of the Nantucket Yacht Club and Sankaty Head Golf Club. 

In 1987, Ted and Elaine moved for the final time to Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra, Florida. They were founding members of Sawgrass Country Club. Elaine embraced the last chapter of her life. Elaine volunteered in Florida’s Guardian Ad Litem program and received a commendation in 1992 for her fierce and determined child advocacy. She supported the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and Christ Episcopal Church. She traveled, returning to old haunts like Cairo and Rome, and discovering new places like Prague and London. She was an avid bridge player and occasional golfer. Her every day began with the New York Times and ended with a glass of Dewars. 

Elaine was preceded in death by her spouse, Edwin Franklin Atkins. She is survived by her children, Edwin Franklin Atkins, Jr. (Virginia) of Wethersfield, Connecticut; Robert Gray Atkins (Ellen) of Concord, Massachusetts; Katherine Atkins Barrand (Stephen) of Beverly, Massachusetts; William James Stephen Atkins (Kathleen) of Marietta, Georgia; along with 13 grandchildren and 10 great-grand- children. In lieu of flowers, charitable gifts in Elaine’s memory can be directed to the Sconset Trust or Community Hospice of Ponte Vedra, Florida.