Governor Garrahy Remembered For Progressivism

A former Rhode Island legislator remembered J. Joseph Garrahy after news of his passage on Tuesday.

Ever-preserved in the minds of Rhode Islanders as the ‘regular Joe’ who worked around the clock in his plaid shirt through the blizzard that stopped the state in 1978, another former Rhode Island lawmaker remember former Gov. J. Joseph Garrahy for his progressive role in state politics after news of his passage on Tuesday. “Fortunately Joe was very calm and collected and appeared very folksy with his lumber shirt,” said former Rep. Robert O. Tiernan, of Matunuck, reflecting on Garrahy’s handling of the blizzard that surprised Rhode Island three and half decades ago. “He did a very nice job with that, which was difficult with so many demands for service.” The blizzard defined Garrahy early on in his tenure, but Garrahy went on to redefine …

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Obits, Death Notices and Services: December 10, 2011

Please send any appropriate notices to Narragansett@patch.com or Stephen.greenwell@patch.com.

As a service to the community, Narragansett Patch will run any death notice, obituary or memorial service that it receives free of charge. Do you have one you’d like to see on the site? Please send any appropriate notices to Narragansett@patch.com or Stephen.greenwell@patch.com. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2011 A church service will be held at 1 p.m. at Wakefield Baptist Church for Douglas Downes, 43. Douglas was a long-time resident of Narragansett, and he passed away in his South Kingstown home in November. He is survived by his twin brother David, and several other family members. NOVEMBER 27, 2011 Robert E. Mousseau, DDS., 86, of Narragansett.

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May The Road Rise Up To Meet You

Sunrise paddle out and memorial service held for Dr. Mike Infantolino, who passed away last week.

Word traveled quickly through the local community this week - a memorial service and traditional "paddle out" would be held for Mike Infantolino, who passed away last week in the waters off Deep Hole in Matunuck. An ancient tradition, born of the Islands and adopted by the surfing world, more than 100 members of Infantolino's extended family, gathered at Point Judith Lighthouse early Friday morning, boards and paddles ready to take to the sea in honor of his passing. The culmination of a moving seaside ceremony acclaiming Infantolino's love for life, family, friends and the sea - the paddle out, a floating joining of hands and ritual shout out extended to the shore, shared by all who stayed behind, lined up in unison along the bluffs.

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Middle Schooler Passes Away After Pool Accident

A 10-year-old middle school student passes away on Sunday night after getting caught on a swim ladder in her pool several days ago.

According to media reports and school officials, a sixth grader passed away Sunday night several days after an accident in a pool. A report from The Providence Journal includes an interview with Narragansett Fire Chief James Cotter. He said the 10-year-old middle school student, who would be going into the sixth grade, was pulled from an above-ground pool and given CPR before being transferred to South County Hospital. According to a source, the accident occurred when the girl’s foot was caught in a swim ladder, and she hung on via life support the past several days. The girl has not been publicly identified, but according to the source, parents have been in touch with the Pier School to organize a crisis team. Patch will update this story…

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Former RI Governor Sundlun Passes Away

According to media reports, former Rhode Island Governor Bruce Sundlun has passed away.

According to The Providence Journal, former Rhode Island Governor Bruce G. Sundlun has passed away today at the age of 91. For a full story from the Journal, click here. The Journal also did an exhaustive profile of Sundlun and his life at 86, which you can read here. Sundlun served as governor from 1991 to 1995, after Edward DiPrete. He was known for his decorated military service, his career as a lawyer, and his sometimes eccentric and colorful personality and behavior. Sundlun was married five times, and famously in 1993, used a shotgun to clear his property of racoons he thought were rabid. He surrendered his driver's license in 2009 after numerous complaints about his driving at the University of Rhode Island, where he maintained an …

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Marylou Butler

8:56 pm on Thursday, July 21, 2011

He was a character for sure. He was a force to be reckoned with and will always be remembered in our little state.   more ›

Family Tides

A Mother's Summer Job Come True — Cruise Director

Sure mothers are infamous for their homemade turkey soup, taxi services and the ability to make boo boos go from ouch to all better. But during the summer, they also know how to coordinate lots of fun activities!

Ever watch that lighthearted sitcom popular in the 1980s, The Love Boat? I sure did. What kept me watching each week was not the exotic destinations Captain Merrill Stubing would guide us to, it was because I thought his cruise director, the very cute and perky Julie McCoy, had simply the most wonderful job in the entire world. I didn’t know how, but someday, I told myself, I would have a job like that. Well, three decades later I have finally landed my dream job, and I have my eight darling children to thank for it. As many parents already know, when school-aged children are home on vacation they want and expect to have plans made for them for the entire duration. Long gone are the days when kids are content to play with trucks and a …

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School Employee Passes Away

Nelsene Linden Hogan, 60, passed away on Monday at Westerly Hospital. She was the administrative assistant to Superintendent Kathy Sipala.

Nelsene Linden Hogan of Westerly passed away after a brief illness on Monday  at Westerly Hospital. She was 60, born on January 3, 1951 in Hartford, CT, and lived most of her life in Windsor, CT, many years on Poquonock Avenue. At the time of her passing, she was employed as the Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent of Schools of Narragansett. Nelsene graduated from Windsor High School in 1969 and the University of Connecticut in 1993. Nelsene was an avid kayaker, and enjoyed walking the beaches of Westerly. She had many talents: a fine seamstress, knitting almost anything, including hats for our service personnel in Afghanistan and socks for her entire family. She was a member of the Asylum Hill Congregational Church in Hartford …

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Release: Former Theatre By The Sea Producer Tommy Brent Passes Away At 88

Former manager saved the theatre twice from destruction.

Ocean State Theatre Company, the not-for-profit producing entity atTheatre By The Sea, along with Bill Hanney, the current owner of the historic property, note with sorrow the recent passing of Tommy Brent, who produced shows for over two decades at the seaside playhouse. Mr. Brent was first introduced to Theatre By The Sea in the late 1940s, when he was involved with a documentary about theaters in New England. He returned in 1958 for a one year stint as a press agent for the theater. Ten years later, after learning that the theater was destined for demolition, Mr. Brent took over the management of the theater and produced over 100 musicals and plays from 1967 through 1988. Mr. Brent credited himself with saving the theater twice – once …

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Update: State Police Rule Fisherman Death A Suicide

Police say suicide is the case of death for Galilee resident Charles Alper, 28.

According to a report by The Providence Journal, Rhode Island State Police have ruled the death of Charles L. Alper, 28, of 304 Great Island Road in Galilee a suicide. Based on police interviews with crewmembers, Alper intentionally leapt from the boat into the water. State police did not return phone calls for comment. An online memory book for Alper is available here. Note: Patch does not typically report suicides and suicide attempts, in line with traditional journalism practice, except in case of a public incident or a search that consumes public resources. -- Saturday afternoon: The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has now suspended its active search for a 28-year old man who was lost from of the fishing vessel Karen Elizabeth about ½…

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State Police: Investigators May Never Know What Led to URI Instructor's Death

The "tragic death" of URI Instructor Katheryn "Katia" Cabral was unintentional, but investigators may never know what led Cabral to "The Cove," said State Police on Friday.

State Police say they may never know exactly what led to the death of a beloved University of Rhode Island instructor, but know her passing was not intentional or the work of foul play. "We believe she inadvertently drove her vehicle into the water," said Lt. Ray Studley, assistant detective commander for the State Police, on Friday. "It was a tragic accident." Katheryn "Katia" Cabral, 56, of Warren, was found inside the rear of a submerged vehicle at Gull Cove in Portsmouth on Friday, Dec. 17, 2010. The cause of death was previously determined to have been an accidental drowning. The vehicle drove into the water at what is referred to as "The Cove," according to police. "The vehicle was in drive," Studley said. "It appeared to be …

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