Eleanor H Pinkham

Our loving and devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Eleanor Humphrey Pinkham of East Lansing, MI, formerly of Kalamazoo, MI, passed away on March 24, 2026, after a long and fulfilling life, just shy of 100 years. She was born in Chicago, Illinois on May 7, 1926 to Grace Eleanor Cushing and Edward Lemuel Humphrey. She is preceded in death by her parents and her older sister, Mary Ruth Humphrey Martichinke, and her caring husband of 46 years, James Hanson Pinkham. She is survived by her daughters Laurie Pinkham Chapin (David) and Carol Pinkham MacManus (Richard), and their families.

A lifelong learner and lover of books, music, and the arts, Eleanor received her K-12 education at The Parker School on the campus of Chicago Teachers College. Eleanor was active in her church, where her mother directed choirs. One of Eleanor’s favorite childhood memories was attending shows at the Chicago Opera House with her mother. Upon graduation from high school, Eleanor attended Kalamazoo College. A sociology major and winner of the Todd prize in Sociology, she minored in Music and French. She was a member of the Eurodelphian Literary Society, the College Singers, Gaynor Club women’s singing group, and served on the student newspaper staff. Eleanor’s greatest joy in college was performing in a vocal pops trio with her best friends.

Graduating in 1948, Eleanor married fellow Kalamazoo College graduate James Hanson Pinkham. After residing in Monroe, MI and Des Moines, IA for a short time, they moved back to Kalamazoo for the rest of their married life. Always active members of their community, Eleanor and Jim were members of the First Presbyterian Church where they were both Elders. In addition, Eleanor and Jim were very involved in local politics, leading successful campaigns to elect several mayors.

Trailblazer and resilient are fit descriptions of Eleanor Pinkham. This came naturally to her having been raised by a widowed mother. Eleanor was a professional working woman in an era dominated by a male workforce and was a role model for many young women. She joined the staff at Kalamazoo College’s Upjohn Library in 1964. After completing her Master of Library Science degree at Western Michigan University, she was named the college’s Library Director in 1970. In 1982, she assumed additional duties when named Director of Library and Media Services. After specialized study at Oxford University in England, one of Eleanor’s favorite projects was curating and growing the rare book collection in the Library’s A.M. Todd Rare Book Room, and instituting a series of student developed exhibits and programs. Along the way she caringly mentored scores of students and employees providing advice and encouragement in both their personal and professional lives.

During her tenure Eleanor spearheaded the installation of the first computerized library system, integrating it into a world-wide research network, was a founding member of the Michigan Library Consortium, and amazingly, grew the endowment for the library from a few thousand dollars to over two million dollars. EP at her finest! Eleanor served as President of the Michigan Library Association, Chair of the Michigan Library Consortium, and President of the College Library section of the National Association of College and Research Libraries. She garnered many awards throughout her distinguished career including the Michigan Library Consortium Distinguished Service award, Michigan Library Association Librarian of the Year, and was one of the first to receive Kalamazoo College’s Alumni Association Weimer K. Hicks award.

After her retirement in 1993, Eleanor was always happiest when she was busy with a project and serving others. With her knowledge of art from serving as the curator of the Kalamazoo College art collection, she became a docent at the Kalamazoo Institute of Art. Seeing a need, she also spent many volunteer hours organizing the archives of the First Presbyterian Church of Kalamazoo. Always learning and always seeking the beauty of the arts, she greatly enjoyed her book clubs, attending operas in Chicago, and Kalamazoo’s Gilmore Music Festival events. Even well into her 90s, living in East Lansing at Burcham Hills Retirement Center, she served on the Resident Center Board of Directors and sought out other retired librarians to help professionally catalogue and label the entire Burcham Library.

Most of all, Eleanor loved family gatherings and attending all the activities that involved anyone in the family. Eleanor is survived by her daughters Laurie Pinkham Chapin (David) of East Lansing, MI and Carol Pinkham MacManus (Richard) of Cardiff by the Sea, CA; 5 grandchildren: Andrew Chapin (Camy) of Mason, MI; Cari Chapin Cravotta (Keith) of East Lansing, MI; Lauren MacManus Denison (Masun) of Carlsbad, CA; Ian MacManus (Rachael) of San Clemente, CA; and Angela MacManus Newcom (Charles) of San Francisco, CA; and 13 great-grandchildren: Carson, Caleb, and Camden Chapin; Kaila, Alaina, and Davis Cravotta; Danica and Abigail Denison; Penelope, Carolina, and Malia MacManus; and Elizabeth and James Newcom. All of whom received books every Christmas!

A memorial service will take place in July and will be held at the Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home in East Lansing, Michigan. A specific date and time of this celebration will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, Eleanor requested that Memorial Contributions be made to the Kalamazoo College, Pinkham Family Library Fund. Her final act of service to K’s students and staff! Contributions may be sent to: Kalamazoo College Advancement, Pinkham Family Library Fund, 1200 Academy Street, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49006. Or, by visiting: www.kzoo.edu/onlinegiving Support Selection: Other. Gift Instructions: Pinkham Family Library Fund. In memory of: Eleanor Pinkham ’48.

Finally, and with deepest appreciation, Eleanor’s family would like to express a very special thank you to Sparrow Hospice and to the entire staff of The Willows, East Lansing, Legacy (memory care) Building, who provided Eleanor with such abundant love and compassionate care in her final year of life. She will be missed by many dear friends, especially Paul and Norma; Marianne, Coleen, Pamela, & Sandy - the Library Ladies Who Lunch.