Ashton Hawkins

William Ashton Hawkins was born in Manhattan and was raised in Syosset, Long Island. His father, Ashton William Hawkins, was an investment broker. His mother, Kyra ( Schutt) Hawkins, was born in Russia. She fled the country during the communist revolution. In 1959, Hawkins graduated from Harvard University with a BA degree in political studies. In 1962, he graduated from Harvard Law School. ==Career==

After his graduation from law school, Hawkins took the Foreign Service exam, planning to have a career as a diplomat. He instead went to work for Cadwalader, Wickersham and Taft, the oldest law firm in New York City. He then worked as an assistant New York state attorney general. He helped arrange for the construction of the wing to house the Temple of Dendur. Hawkins retired from full-time work at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2001. He then went on to focus on art law. He advocated for stronger protections for art worldwide, particularly in the Middle East after the 2003 American invasion of Iraq. ==Personal life==

In 1996, Hawkins met Johnnie Moore, an actor and producer. They were married in 2013. According to his husband, Hawkins died from complications of Alzheimer's disease on March 27, 2022, at an assisted living facility in White Plains, New York. ==References==