R. K. Winkelmann

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Winkelmann, R. K. Celebrated Dermatologist The Mayo Clinic's Richard K. Winkelmann passed away on August 16 quietly and comfortably surrounded by family at the age of 88. He was known as "Wink" to his many friends. During his highly productive career, Wink authored and published over 800 scholarly articles and published 6 books. He was on the International Committee of Dermatology for 15 years. Wink was a devoted husband and family man as well as a true polymath. He loved classical music, crossword puzzles, and tennis; but his voracious appetite for books occupied most of his spare time. Wink always said that the brightest day in his life came when he met Anne Mary Robertson at the Rochester Tennis Club. They were married in 1952. This year, 2012, they celebrated their 60th anniversary in April. Wink leaves behind his beloved wife, Anne and their four children: Richard Lowell (Becky), John Curtis (Jeannine), Lisa Anne (Jerome), and Susan Elizabeth (Brad). They have four grandchildren: William, Paul, Richard, and Katherine. Wink received a Ph.D. in Dermatology/Pathology from the University of Minnesota in 1956, the same year he joined the Mayo Clinic staff. He was a distinguished member of the Mayo Clinic Staff from 1956 to 1994. He was the Chairman of the Department of Dermatology from 1970 to 1975. He helped found the Society of Dermapathology and was President of the organization in 1977. It now has over 1000 members. He also has served as president of the Society of Investigative Dermatology and many other organizations. Additionally, he held a Professorships in Dermatology and Anatomy. He is a member of 18 foreign dermatological societies including the Royal College of Physicians (London). At 65, he joined the Department of Dermatology at Mayo Clinic Arizona (Scottsdale). Retiring in 1994 to Fountain Hills, Arizona and Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota, he has taken on the study of algae and served as a Research Professor, Department of Plant Biology at Arizona State University. While spending summers in Marine on St. Croix, he became a Visiting Scientist at the St. Croix Watershed Station/Science Museum of Minnesota and worked to catalogue the algae in the St. Croix River. In 2005, Dr. Winkelmann was named as a Distinguished Alumnus of the Mayo Clinic School of Medicine. Wink was truly a gifted original. He was never happier than reading a book surrounded by family. He also invented the Winkeltini. There will be a memorial service at Charter House, Rochester, MN, Thursday, September 6, at 10:30am followed by a casual reception. The family prefers memorials to the Mayo Clinic in lieu of flowers.

Published on August 21, 2012