Dr. Kenneth Michael Collins

January 6, 2024

CHARLOTTE – Ken Collins died unexpectedly at home on Saturday, January 6, 2024.  He is remembered for his love of teaching, his care for people, and his unique sense of humor.  Ken enjoyed travel, going to the movies, and playing chess, especially with his oldest grandson.  A passionate swimmer himself, he coached the sport at Charlotte Latin for many years.

Born in the Bronx to Eugene and Helen Collins in 1944, he graduated from Stuyvesant High School and received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Brooklyn Polytech.  He earned a PhD in Math Education at Purdue and loved his 50-year career at Charlotte Latin School.  Each summer, he spent time with his math teacher tribe at Phillips Exeter Academy.

His family includes Mary Beth Collins, their children Erin Fleischauer (Jason) and Eli Collins (Alison Wong), grandsons Leo, Elliot, and Arthur, as well as his sister Marilyn and her husband Joe Russo and their son Jacob.

A celebration of life will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, February 3, 2024, in Thies Auditorium at Charlotte Latin School, 9502 Providence Road, Charlotte, NC.

Memorials may be made to The Collins Lower School Scholarship Fund at Charlotte Latin School or to a charity of the donor’s choice. 

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606. Online condolences may be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.

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  • Sue and Joe Alvarez

    We met Ken and Mary Beth Collins shortly after moving to Charlotte from Gainesville, FL, in the fall of 1971. Mary Beth and Joe were instructors at Central Piedmont Community College. We became members of a group of faculty at CPCC who often had get-togethers that included Ken and Mary Beth. We offer our sincere condolences to Mary Beth, Erin, and Eli, and other family members.

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  • Drs Jasleen and Harmohan Singh

    Our heartfelt condolences to the family. We feel fortunate to know Dr Collins, who mentored our son, Gauruv Singh for several years. He was a great teacher, a brilliant mind with a fine sense of humor and above all, he was a great human being. He will be dearly missed. May he RIP.

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  • Marilyn Russo

    To all of Kenny’s friends and colleagues in Charlotte, I express heartfelt gratitude from his family in New York for the love and support extended to Marybeth, Erin and Eli. My brother is so very missed by us here, but it comforts us to know that he planted strong roots and created relationships that will continue to flower.
    In loving appreciation,
    Marilyn, Joe and Jacob

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  • Ron Lancaster

    I met Ken 35 years ago at the week-long Anja S. Greer Conference on Mathematics and Technology held at Phillips Exeter Academy. Except for two years during Covid, we saw each other every year at this conference. In the beginning we taught our own courses, but in later years we joined forces and taught courses together. Ken and I also did a number of live webinars for Texas Instruments that were watched by teachers around the world. We shared a love for teaching, mathematics and puns and it was a pleasure working with him.

    Even though Ken and I would see each other once or twice a year, every time we met it was like we had just seen each other a week ago. We would pick up where we left off and carry on. I always enjoyed hearing about how he and his family were doing, the trips they had taken and how school was going for him.

    I learned a great deal from Ken about teaching, being generous, gentle and kind to others.

    I will be at the Exeter Conference next June and I plan on having dinner at Orweed Restaurant in Perkins Cove, Maine. Ken and I enjoyed many dinners there surrounded by other teachers. This year Ken will not be with us, but we will toast him and share memories of a life well lived.

    To the entire Collins family - I am sorry for your loss.

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