Amesbury - Victor Stanley Atkins, a longtime resident of Newburyport, died peacefully at his home in Amesbury on December 26, at the age of 86.

He was born on March 28, 1939, in Peebles Scotland to Dora Eveline and William James Atkins.

Educated in England, Victor came to the US in 1966 on a teaching fellowship, and earned a doctorate in education at Harvard.

In 1973 he became the much loved Principal of the newly built Cashman School in Amesbury and later served as Assistant Principal at the Amesbury Elementary school before retirement in 2002.

Victor was a lifelong learner and teacher; in retirement he trained to be a field teacher with Mass Audubon at Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary and Joppa Flats. He loved storytelling and was on the Board of the Firehouse Center for the Arts in Newburyport for several years. He took part in The New Works Festival, and performed with Theater in the Open and at The Actors Studio in Newburyport.

He is survived by Meg, his wife of 60 years, his children Kate and James, his grandchildren, Delano, Rosa, Enid and Phoebe, and his beloved sister Anne who lives in England with her family.

Services will be private. The Twomey, LeBlanc, & Conte Funeral Home, 193 High St., Newburyport, MA 01950 is assisting Mr. Atkins' family with his arrangements.

Donations may be made to the Midcoast Conservancy of Maine. https://www.midcoastconservancy.org/donate Victor cared about conserving and protecting nature, and enjoyed hiking with his family in the Damariscotta area.

To offer online condolences please visit www.tlcfuneralhome.com.