KINGSTON, R.I. — January 5, 2000 — The Friends of the University of Rhode Island College of Nursing have a new friend in Rhode Island artist Maxwell Mays. When Mays made a surprise visit to the group’s annual winter party recently, members enjoyed his storytelling, his wit, and recollections as he presented a print he specially colored and remarqued for the College. “This is one of the few colorized things I ever did,” he said of the print that depicts Providence in the early 1900s. “There are only three now.” The audience chuckled as the Coventry resident told stories of old and new Providence, and how much he loves the city and state. “We live in the Garden of Eden,” he said. The Friends of the College of Nursing, which support fund-raising, marketing and student recruiting efforts for the College, will raffle the Mays print Feb. 25, 2000. The proceeds will benefit the Dean’s Fund for nursing student scholarships and faculty professional development. Individual tickets are $10 while three tickets cost $25. To purchase raffle tickets, please call 874-2766. While the Mays visit was a surprise to most in attendance, it wasn’t to Dayle Joseph, interim dean of the College. This is the third year the College has received a Mays print thanks to the generosity of the artist’s friend, Dave Pezzelli, owner of Tiffany Wigs in Cranston. For the last two years, Pezzelli has donated a print, which Mays has remarqued for the College. This year, however, Mays completely colored a black-and-white print, re-signed it and inscribed a special note. Mays joked about how he was coaxed into adding the special touches by Pezzelli, who cuts his hair. “When someone is cutting around your ear, you tend to listen,” Mays said. Pezzelli became a strong supporter of the URI College of Nursing through his association with the late Clare Sullivan, the director of nursing at Butler Hospital for many years. Pezzelli has gotten to know many nurses through his work on behalf of chemotherapy patients. “Dave was friends with Clare, who was on our advisory board,” Dean Joseph said. It was Sullivan who suggested to Pezzelli that donated Mays’ prints could be used to raise money for the College. “Our business involves a lot of association with the nursing profession, and Clare was a wonderful person,” Pezzelli said. “I gave her a print one Christmas, and she then asked if I could do the same for the College of Nursing. It’s clear I am doing this in Clare’s memory.” -xxx- For Further Information: Dave Lavallee 401-874-2116