Gloria Winston papers (OF.1ZP.2022.002)

Biographical/Historical Note

Gloria Winston was born in 1926 to Samuel and Ruth Markoff. She grew up in Providence on the corner of Waterman Street and Wayland Avenue with her sisters Dorothy and Bernice Markoff. All three sisters attended Brown University. Dorothy graduated in 1932, Bernice graduated in 1941, and Gloria graduated in 1948. The three maintained a deep connection to Brown, eventually establishing the Walter and Dorothy 1935 Nelson Scholarship Fund for music, Samuel and Bernice Gourse Endowed Scholarship, and James W. and Gloria M. Winston Scholarship for the performing arts.

While at Brown, Gloria majored in sociology and minored in psychology. Her fondest memories include participating in theatre, Sock and Buskin, WBRU, Brownbrokers, and playing the jester for the queen at the May Day celebration. During her time at Brown, she also met her future husband, midshipman Jimmy Winston, who graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1947 – a class which included Jimmy Carter, Stan Turner, and James Stockdale. Gloria and Jimmy married on December 5, 1948, and had three children - Sam, Laura, and Ted. Gloria worked with her sisters at the family greeting card company, The Paramount Line of Pawtucket Rhode Island, which was founded by her Father in 1906. She also volunteered for various organizations including Trinity, Rhode Island Philharmonic, Rhode Island School of Design, Miriam and Butler Hospitals, Temple Beth El, United Way, and Meals on Wheels. She has served as reunion chairman for many years, especially the 25th reunion with her friend Christine Dunlap.

Gloria's husband died in 1999, and in 2008 she moved to Laurelmead, a cooperative in Providence where she participates on numerous committees, in daily exercise classes, enjoys lectures and concerts, and plays lots of bridge. She says her greatest joys are her three children, 12 grandchildren, and 22 great-grandchildren. She hopefully looks forward to walking down the hill for her 75th reunion as she did alone on her 70th Pembroke reunion.