Dr. Stuart Harris Winston, 88, of Whitman, Massachusetts, passed away on September 8, 2025, surrounded by his loving family.
Born on June 26, 1937, in Silver Springs, Maryland, Stuart grew up in Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York. He was the devoted son of the late Alexander Winston and Bess (Markowitz) Winston, and brother to his late sister, Joan Winston.
A gifted student, Stuart began his college career at Brooklyn College at the age of 16. He later earned his Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from Michigan State University in 1967. After completing his doctorate, Dr. Winston taught at Bryn Mawr College. In 1969, he began his long and impactful career as a research scientist with the Veterans Health Administration in Brockton, Massachusetts. After three decades of service with the VA, he transitioned in 2009 to the research faculty at Harvard Medical School, where he continued his scientific work until retiring in 2020.
During his professional career from 1969 to 2020, Dr. Stuart Winston’s scientific contributions advanced a more complete mechanistic model of sleep regulation, bridging molecules, neural circuits, and behavioral states. These insights continue to influence sleep medicine, neuroscience research, and even our everyday understanding of why we feel tired, how we recover from sleep loss, and how brain circuits maintain balance between wakefulness and rest.
Outside of his professional accomplishments, Dr. Winston was an avid athlete and a man of vigorous spirit—he continued to enjoy playing softball on Cape Cod well into the impressive age of 82. He also proudly fenced during his years at Michigan State. His energy, curiosity, and zest for life remained a source of inspiration to his family, friends, andcolleagues.
Dr. Winston is survived by his loving wife, Elizabeth Winston of Whitman; and his children, Douglas Winston and his wife Kathleen of Fredericksburg, Virginia, Brian Winston and his wife Vanessa of Plymouth, Massachusetts, Gary Winston and his wife Melissa of Marietta, Georgia, Kristen Winston- Busch and her husband Matt of Whitman, and Jill Winston-Miller and her husband Jeff of Hanson, Massachusetts. He was the proud grandfather of Samantha Gutierrez and her husband Sterling, Nicholas Winston; Zachary and Drew Winston; Madison and Brody Winston; James and Olivia Winston; Melody Emswiler and her husband Christopher, Matthew, and Collin Busch; Jacob Joyce and his wife Sam; Wesley Meehan, and Theo Winston. He was also blessed with three great- grandchildren, Elijah Gutierrez, Lilliana Emswiler, and Lucia Joyce.
Dr. Winston’s legacy endures in the lives of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. His love of learning,
dedication to family, and passion for life will continue to guide and inspire all who knew him. He will be deeply missed.
Family and friends are invited to his visitation on Friday, September 12th from 4-7pm at the Blanchard Funeral Chapel, RTE 58 (at the rotary circle). There will be a graveside service the following day on Saturday at 11am in the Colebrook Cemetery, located on Essex Street, Whitman (across from the Whitman police station).
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.
Donate Here