THOMAS, David S., 80, of Providence, passed away in Falmouth, MA on September 20, 2016. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Katherine Murray. He is survived by his wife, Ellen Bigler, his son, John-David H. Thomas (Elizabeth), and his three granddaughters, Katherine, Caroline, and Madeline Thomas. Born in Winthrop, MA in 1936, he graduated from Tabor Academy, received his undergraduate degree in economics from Boston University, and a doctorate in history and Islamic Studies from McGill University. He moved to Providence in 1972 and began what was to be a lifelong career as a professor of history at Rhode Island College. He served the College actively and with distinction for over 44 years, including serving as chair of the History Department; advocating for the early adoption of technology in the classroom; founding the College’s Global Studies program; leading the initiative to establish a new General Education program; and co-founding and contributing to the College’s Dialogue on Diversity. He traveled the world, including Turkey, the Middle East, and Indonesia, the latter as a Fulbright Scholar. He was a dedicated teacher, a recipient of multiple awards, and always active in broadening his own understanding of the world and seeking to share that knowledge with others. Even with his global perspective, his favorite place was the house his father built on Bourne’s Pond in Falmouth, Massachusetts. He loved sailing, fishing, crabbing, clamming and diving in the waters of the Cape and gardening in its sunshine. His true love and passion in the past decade was sharing all the Cape had to offer with his three granddaughters and watching them make new memories as they followed in the footsteps of generations past.
A memorial service will be held at Rhode Island College on Friday, September 30 at 11:30 a.m. in Alger Hall,, and at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Falmouth at 2 p.m. on Saturday October 1. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a donation to the “David S. Thomas Islamic Studies Award c/o the Rhode Island College Foundation”, 600 Mount Pleasant Avenue Providence, RI 02908 or to the charity of your choice.