NORWICH, VT

Augustus Keith Van Winkle, a resident of Norwich, died on September 19, 2018, at Cedar Hill Healthcare in Windsor, VT at the age of 76.

Keith was born on July 16, 1942 to Elise Davis Van Winkle and Webster Van Winkle. He was raised in Summit, NJ, where he graduated from high school in 1960. In 1964 he earned a BA in economics from Middlebury College. While at Middlebury he was named to the All-New England Soccer Team for four years and the All-America Soccer Team in 1962 and 1963. From 1964-1966 he studied geography at the University of Innsbruck and taught skiing at Fulpmes, Austria. In 1966 he was awarded a Teaching Fellowship in Geography at Clark University in Worcester, MA, where he earned his MA in 1968. During this time he married Katherine Clark, also of Summit, NJ.

Upon graduation, Keith won a Fulbright Fellowship to study in Austria. He instead honored his contract to teach geography and German at Hanover Junior and Senior High Schools. While there he coached skiing.  During summers Keith apprenticed with George Porter Builders in Norwich, and he ultimately left teaching to establish his own custom building business. An avid gymnast, Keith also volunteered as assistant gymnastics coach at Dartmouth College and later became head gymnastics coach of the Dartmouth team. He also established The Upper Valley School of Gymnastics, which he and Kit operated until 2012.

Keith established the National Masters Gymnastics Championships and competed until he was 50. He then turned to springboard diving and competed in National and World Championships, retiring in 2007 when he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. He continued to compete in the Senior Division of the New England Championships in tennis and track & field. He also remained a committed tennis and squash player until his death.

Keith is survived by his former wife Kit; daughter Shannah Van Winkle of Boulder, CO, and daughter Kari Rust and son-in-law Chris of Portola Valley, CA; grandchildren Elise, Ava, Walker, Quinn and West; brother Davis Van Winkle of South Casco, ME; sister Barb Van Winkle of Ellicott City, MD; four nieces and six nephews; an uncle and an aunt.

The family is planning a private celebration of Keith's life. Memorial gifts may be made in Keith's honor to Friends of the Norwich Public Library ( http://www.norwichlibrary.org/support-npl/ ) or the Upper Valley Haven ( https://uppervalleyhaven.org/donate/ ).

The Knight Funeral Home in Windsor assisted with the arrangements.