The Lifetime Service Society was established three years ago to honor those who have given much of their lives to the University. During the ceremonies, President David M. Dooley presented each recipient with a plaque, and the recipients also received certificates from Congressman Jim Langevin, Governor Gina Raimondo and the General Assembly. In addition, a commemorative brick with each person’s name and years of service was unveiled on the library plaza.
With this year’s inductees, 107 former employees have been entered into the society, which honors those with 40 or more years of service to the University.
“At URI, we talk about building a vibrant and inclusive community,” Dooley said. “One way to achieve such a goal is to have faculty, staff and administrators who are dedicated to serving the University with their talent and energy. Those we honor here today have brought their skills, commitment and sacrifice to the University for not just years – but decades. And we are better for it. As the University grows and becomes even more dynamic you remind us of the traditions and rich contributions URI has made to the state, nation and world. Thanks to you for imparting the values of dedicated and cheerful service to our community.
You are among the people who have played a major role in making the University what it is today.”
This year’s certificates and citations were presented to the following 2014 retirees:
John Boulmetis of Kingston
Professor of Education
John Boulmetis earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from URI and his doctorate from Ohio State University. He joined the URI faculty in the School of Education in 1978. He coordinated the master of arts degree in adult education until 2012, advising more than 400 graduate students. He served as president of the American Association of Adult and Continuing Education, received the group’s President’s Award for Exceptional and Innovative Leadership in Adult and Continuing Education and was named the Rhode Island Adult Educator of the Year. He authored more than 150 articles, reports and books and was awarded more than $18 million in grant funding.
Robert C. Bullock of West Kingston
Professor of Biological Sciences and Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
Robert Bullock earned his bachelor’s degree from Gordon College, master’s degree from the University of Maine, and a master’s degree and doctorate from Harvard University. He joined the URI faculty in 1974 after an appointment at the University of Central Florida. His scholarly interests focused on the biology of marine mollusks, especially the polyplacophora.
He taught classes on invertebrate zoology, animal diversity and systematic biology. While at URI, he served as chair of the departments of Zoology and Biological Sciences, associate dean in the College of Arts and Sciences, president of the American Malacological Society and senior Fulbright scholar at the University of the Azores.
When the Center for Biotechnology and Life Sciences opened, Bullock created a display of mollusks from his extensive collection. Three zoological taxa have been named in his honor: Bullockus, a group of Caribbean marine snails; Lepdidochitona bullocki, a chiton from Colombia; and Chiton (Rhyssoplax) bullock, a chiton from Vietnam.
Cynthia Y. Faria of Wakefield
This special dedication ceremony for University employees would not have been possible without the passion and perseverance of inductee Cynthia Yemma Faria.
Faria began her career at URI as a senior clerk stenographer in the Department of Languages and ended it as a coordinator of Space and Federal Equipment in the Property & Support Services Department.
During her 41 years, she’s served through five URI presidents, held six job titles and worked in eight Kingston campus buildings, although her job as coordinator took her into buildings on all four URI campuses.
She views her accomplishments as earning her bachelor’s degree in journalism while working full time; watching her two sons receive their URI undergraduate degrees; and developing the concept that led to this lifetime society.
She says she’s fortunate to have worked at URI for as long as she had, and that it was truly an honor for her to become a member of the Lifetime Service Society.
Richard H. Kingsley of Jamestown
Beginning as a research assistant in 1973, Richard Kingsley had a 41-year career at the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography. He has the distinction of having received all three of his degrees from the University of Rhode Island (bachelor’s degree in geology, master’s degree in oceanography and doctorate in oceanography). Kingsley earned the two graduate degrees while he was employed at GSO.
He participated in seven oceanographic research expeditions collecting Mid-Ocean Ridge basalts. He, along with GSO Professor Emeritus Jean-Guy Schilling, is responsible for defining the trace element and isotopic contents of Mid-Ocean Ridge basalts. Kingsley has authored or co-authored more than 52 journal articles and presentations, and supervised and instructed work-study students, graduate students and fellow employees in geochemical and instrumental laboratory procedures. Richard enjoys sailing and gardening.
Phyllis J. Lamidi of Providence
Lamidi graduated in 1967 from Hope High School in Providence and later worked at the URI Cooperative Extension Services from 1974 as a technical assistant. She is an alumna of the University of Rhode Island, receiving her undergraduate degree in 1978 and her master’s degree in education in 1980. Lamidi was promoted to Educator II in 1986 with the Cooperative Extension, focusing on children, youth and family programs. She was later promoted to Educator IV and worked closely with longtime Co-Director Marilyn Martin to identify, design and implement programs that met the needs of Rhode Island’s youth and families. Her community outreach and collaboration has benefited families from Pawtucket, Woonsocket, Portsmouth and Middletown — to name just a few. She retired in 2014 after a full career of dedicated service to the community.
David C. Maslyn of West Kingston
Dean of University Libraries
David Maslyn came to URI in 1974 as the first professional University archivist and head of special collections. Under his guidance, the library expanded its primary research collections to include University archives, personal and political papers, corporate and religious records, the Commercial Pattern Archive and unique rare books and Rhode Island Book Collection. In 1978 he established the New Leaves Press and acquired three 19th century hand presses. He served as an adjunct professor and on numerous committees.
Maslyn advocated for the establishment of a professional State Archives and Records Management Program. As dean, he worked to establish the Learning Commons, expand the Information Literacy program, create the Digital Initiatives Unit and institute the Curriculum Resources Center.
The Late Elmer A. Palmatier formerly of West Kingston
The late Elmer A. Palmatier was a professor in the Department of Botany from 1942 to 1982, and in those 40 years, he shared his knowledge of botany, philosophy and life with more than 12,000 students. In 2010, a scholarship was established in his name to support an outstanding undergraduate in biological sciences each year. He was presented the Rhode Island Natural History Survey’s 2005 Distinguished Naturalist Award and he was the 1974 winner of the URI Award for Distinguished Teaching. The former West Kingston resident was an authority on the flora of Rhode Island.
Glenworth A. Ramsay of Wakefield
Although Glen Ramsay has lived in Rhode Island since 1961, his freshman year at Brown, his first trip to the University of Rhode Island didn’t occur until May of 1973. That’s when he came down to the Economics Department for a job interview. The first words out of the chairman’s mouth were, “We wanted Jane but she turned us down, so you’ll have to do.” Once he was in the classroom, things improved quickly and three years later he was awarded the URI Foundation Teaching Excellence Award.
His research resulted in publications in the areas of industrial organization, antitrust and regional growth. Several of his teaching innovations were also published in higher education teaching journals.
From 1984 to 1991 Ramsay set up the Office of Institutional Research and Planning and served as the first director. From 1991 to 1995 he served as chair of the Economics Department and interim chair from 2007-2009. His greatest love has been teaching. Several of his former undergraduate students are now professors at prestigious universities and use some of his more diabolical assignments in their courses. He said that he feels as though those assignments are now his “grandchildren.”
David E. Tetreault of West Kingston
David Tetreault began his undergraduate work at URI in 1958, the same year Francis Horn became president of the University. He majored in electrical engineering and soon became interested in the emerging field of computing. After receiving his master’s degree in electrical engineering in 1972, Tetreault began his career as a special instructor in electrical engineering and the computer laboratory.
His continued interest in technology led him to his next position at URI – instructor of computer science — and eventually to the appointment of assistant professor. Meanwhile, Werner Baum succeeded Francis Horn as president, followed by Frank Newman, Edward Eddy, Robert L. Carothers and David M. Dooley.
By 1981, Tetreault’s interest, knowledge and considerable talent in all things computer changed his career path from teaching to heading up the systems group at the Academic Computer Center as manager of technical support. He led the transitions from standalone, timesharing systems to enterprise-wide computing to increasingly interactive computing and client server applications, as well as the cost-saving transition to open-source software.
During his career at URI, Tetreault inspired many students and mentored many colleagues in the field of technology.
Richard V. Travisano of Wakefield
Professor of Sociology
Richard V. Travisano joined the URI faculty in 1969. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut and his master’s degree and doctorate in sociology from the University of Minnesota. During his tenure at URI, Travisano was a visiting scholar at the University of Leicester and Arizona State University, served as vice president of the Society for the Study of Symbolic Interaction and was co-editor of the journal Symbolic Interaction. He taught courses including Introductory Sociology, Social Psychology and Madness and Society. In recent years, he published on the lives of lobstermen and produced an extensive body of poetry. His poem, “Cape Cod Dunes,” was nominated for the prestigious Pushcart Poetry Prize.
Pictured Above
John Boulmetis of Kingston, left, receives his framed Lifetime Service Society certificate from URI President David. M. Dooley. URI photo by Michael Salerno Photography.
Robert C. Bullock of West Kingston, left, receives his framed Lifetime Service Society certificate from URI President David M. Dooley. URI photo by Michael Salerno Photography.
Cynthia Y. Faria of Wakefield, receives her framed Lifetime Service Society certificate from URI President David M. Dooley. URI photo by Michael Salerno Photography.
Richard H. Kingsley of Jamestown receives his framed Lifetime Service Society certificate from URI President David M. Dooley. URI photo by Michael Salerno Photography.
David C. Maslyn of West Kingston receives his framed Lifetime Service Society certificate from URI President David M. Dooley. URI photo by Michael Salerno Photography.
Glenworth A. Ramsay of Wakefield receives his framed Lifetime Service Society certificate from URI President David M. Dooley. URI photo by Michael Salerno Photography.
RICHARD V. TRAVISANO OF WAKEFIELD receives his framed Lifetime Service Society certificate from URI President David M. Dooley. URI photo by Michael Salerno Photography.