WINONA, Minn. – Walter Paul Ayotte, 90, an English professor at St. Mary’s University 36 years, died in the Winona Heath memory-care unit. He was educated in Winona Catholic schools, although three of those years were at St. Mary’s Minor Seminary in Illinois. He held a degree in English from Saint Mary’s. He taught high school English in Mazeppa and Wabasha. After brief employment with the Watkins household goods company, he went to Saint Mary’s College to teach writing fundamentals. Even in retirement he remained the university’s  director of teaching improvement. He was a lay minister at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. He was a referee for high school sports . To a coach he once said:  “You don’t lose games; you simply run out of time.”

Details: Hoff Funeral Home

1931-2022