May 4, 2026 | Alumni & Feature Stories
Come walk with me along the lake—
its secrets delicate and grand.
Come listen to the whitecaps break,
touch limestone coarse worn into sand.
For one Edgewood University alumnus, these words are more than lines from a poem. They’re an invitation. A memory. A gift.
And—they’re also his own.
This Mother’s Day, Stan Winarski, MBA 91, will celebrate his 94-year-old former English teacher with a very special book.
She’s also his mom.
He remembers how “cool” his freshman English teacher was—and that, somehow, having her in the classroom elevated his own status in high school.
But as he reflects on the collection of poems she will soon hold, he knows the truth runs deeper. As a young boy, she introduced him to Dr. Seuss and the world of poetry. She noticed what captured his interest and guided him toward more, taking him on frequent trips to the library. She filled his life with words and language, and without ever naming it, shaped his lifelong curiosity for the wonders of the world, especially the quiet pull of nature.
A Different Path
It would be natural to assume that Stan followed in the familiar footsteps of his mom. Publishing his poetry collection certainly fits the narrative of an English major.
But Stan built a very successful career in finance.
He leveraged Edgewood’s MBA program to accelerate his career, opening doors to new opportunities. He learned the subtle art of knowing when to act and when to wait. Working full-time while earning his master’s degree, Stan built the framework for effective leadership, ethical decision-making, and most importantly, the ability to position his company for growth by supporting its greatest asset: the people.
Spanning a 40-year career, Stan loved his work in the finance industry. Work that was straightforward—dollars and cents—guided by the certainty of a single right answer. Ironic, really, that he would later turn to writing poetry, where, as he reflected,
“every word you put down eliminates an infinite number of possibilities for what you will say next.”
The Sanctuary of the Northwoods
Stan didn’t wait until retirement in 2022 to begin writing. Amidst the fast pace of his career, he found moments of escape—quiet pockets of time where he could step away from the numbers, the decisions, and the constant noise of the world. In the safety of his journal, he delighted in uncovering truths that surfaced while he sat in the stillness and listened, savoring the discovery as much as the words themselves.
The Wisconsin Northwoods became—and remains—his sanctuary. Among towering pines and winding trails, he slows down, quiets his mind, and simply listens. The forest demands its own authentic story, and Stan’s poems—born in and of this sanctuary—capture its rhythm, its quiet, and the passionate curiosity that has guided him throughout his life. It is here, immersed in the woods, that he can both witness and reflect, giving shape to the thoughts and stories that once lived only inside him.
Beyond Journal Reflections
Though writing has always been a companion, published work wasn’t part of his vision.
The project began simply as a labor of love. A collection of poems offered to his mom—a handcrafted, intimate, and loving tribute.
Yet after submitting work to a poetry contest—and winning—Stan realized that his journey was leading him somewhere bigger. What began in the Northwoods became The Woods ~ Trails and Tangents, a book that carries the rhythm of the forest, the hum of the wildlife inhabiting it, and the reflections of a life lived embracing the deep curiosities of the woods.
Come Walk With Me
Years ago, when she could no longer hike a familiar path alongside him, Stan wrote a poem for his mom. He called it “Come Walk With Me.”
Now, that beloved poem lives within the pages of a published book. A creative milestone, a reflective collection, and a testament to a lifelong relationship with language. But at its heart, it is something simpler.
A son remembering.
A mother who once led him to books, to poems, to possibilities—and a son, years later, finding a way to reflect that love back.
He knows the moment is coming soon. A package will arrive. Pages will turn. And somewhere between the lines, Stan’s mother will recognize the echoes of a life she helped shape.
The walks they once took.
The words she always shared.
The curiosity she quietly nurtured.
This time, he leads the way.
The Woods ~ Trails and Tangents is available for purchase. Visit Stan’s website to learn more.
Like the trails Stan writes about, the Edgewood experience is shaped by curiosity, reflection, and discovery. It’s where knowledge becomes something more—something experienced. For those ready to follow their own path forward, Edgewood offers graduate degrees and certificates designed with adult learners in mind.