Former Tufts Drama Chair Mourned

Tufts’ Sherwood “Doc” Collins – who chaired the University’s drama department for more than a decade – died at the age of 79.

Medford, Somerville, Mass. [07.28.03] For more than 30 years, Sherwood C. Collins – known to his students as Doc – shaped Tufts’ department of drama and dance and nurtured generations of aspiring performers at the University. On July 15, the decorated war veteran who devoted his life to drama died at Tufts-New England Medical Center at age 79.

“[Drama] was his whole life,” Julie Collins told The Boston Globe about her husband. “Tufts and the drama department were everything to him.”

Collins joined Tufts in 1961 as a professor in the drama department. During his 33-year tenure, he directed 35 plays including “Our Town” and “All My Sons.”

Among the students to study under Collins were Oscar-winning actor William Hurt, Emmy-winning actor Hank Azaria and Emmy-nominated actor Oliver Platt.

Collin’s vision and devotion to drama at Tufts have had a lasting impact.

“He was a leading force behind the construction of Tufts’ Balch Arena Theater,” reported the Globe. “Dr. Collins also helped develop a creative arts program for children ages 7 to 12 and a playwriting workshop for adults.”

He also oversaw the Tufts Summer Theater for more than 20 years. “The years have been filled with fulfillment and frustration, insight and oversight,” he once told the Globe about the summer theater program.

In 1973 Collins became the youngest person ever appointed president of the New England Theater Conference. He was also an honorary life member of the Massachusetts High School Drama Guild, an organization which runs an annual high school playwriting competition created by Collins and named in his honor.

A native of Dwight, Kansas, Collins put off his undergraduate studies to fight in World War II. He earned a Distinguished Flying Cross after flying 26 mission over Germany for the United States Air Force.

Collins leaves his wife, a son, a daughter a sister, a brother, two grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Images courtesy of Digital Collections and Archives, Tufts University