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COLLINS -- A. Cowan Collins, MD, 66, a widely respected psychiatrist, died peacefully on January 18, 2007 following his long and valiant battle with CBGD, a neurologic degenerative disease. Cowan will be forever missed by his loving wife, Mary A. Diamond, a psychiatric nurse at UNM; and his beloved daughter, Kenna Diamond Collins, a student at Xavier University in Cincinnati. Other survivors include his mother, Lois Collins, a retired MD of Minneapolis; brother, Ross Collins, MD and wife, Laurel Krause MD of Minneapolis; brother, Kit Collins and wife, Cathy Thomas of Cincinnati; and his nephew, Michael Collins of Monterrey. Extended relatives include, Robert, Helen and Sherry Diamond of Syracuse and Linda and Rich Johnson of Austin. Born in McKeesport, PA in 1940, Cowan spent his childhood in Manhattan, where his endless curiosity and astounding competence were revealed early: by age 8, he could identify all of the birds in Central Park and, unbeknownst to his parents, he'd mastered the subway system by age 10. He moved to Houston, Texas at age 12. He graduated with his bachelors of science degree from the University of Texas, Austin, and earned his medical degree from Southwestern University Medical School in Dallas in 1967. Following his medical internship at UNM's School of Medicine, he served in the US Public Health Service for two years. In 1973, Dr. Collins completed his psychiatric residency at UNM's School of Medicine. Dr. Collins' first position as a general psychiatrist was in Machias, Maine, where he reported for duty three months late, having chosen to do what he'd always done: "ride his bicycle to work," in this case a 2,890 mile trip. In 1976, Dr. Collins returned to Albuquerque where he practiced at both UNM's Psychiatric Center and the Veterans' Hospital for the next 16 years. He was boarded in Psychiatry and Neurology in 1980. In 1992, he was recruited by colleagues to help develop a 400 bed forensic psychiatric program at North Texas State Hospital in Vernon, Texas. He was boarded in Forensic Psychiatry in 1994. He continued to work in a variety of directorships in Vernon until, in 2003, his illness forced his retirement. In addition to his dedication to medicine and psychiatry, Cowan was passionate and accomplished in a vast array of interests including, zoology, entomology, bird watching, bicycling, fly fishing, hiking and backpacking, woodworking, poetry, calligraphy, watercolor and photography. Cowan touched deeply the lives of all who knew him with his brilliant and encyclopedic mind, his loving and generous heart, and his daring and indomitable spirit. Cowan's wife and daughter would like to express heartfelt gratitude to certain special people for the incomparable support they provided throughout the last year of Cowan's life. These people include Cowan's dedicated team of bedside assistants, Pilar Villa, Hilda Villa, Genoveva Reza and Sissy Vargas Orozco; David Lutes, Hospice RN and H. Huson Middleton, Hospice Medical Director for their unfailing daily support to Cowan, Mary and Kenna; Roland Moore, physical therapist and "chief cheerleader," and Cowan's devoted friend and weekly visitor, Timothy Schuster MD, as well as the entire staff at Care Free Living Nursing Home. Cowan's family is planning a Memorial Service and Celebration of Cowan's life for a later date. Memorial contributions can be made in Cowan's name to The Nature Conservancy (800-628-6860), The Rio Grande Nature Center (505-344-7240), or Population Communications International (877-724-7627).
        Published on: Tue January 23, 2007