Phil ’80 and Martha Hopkins Fitting ’81
By Maria V. Caliri ’86, M.B.A. ’92
Outgoing. Sweet. Talented writer. Top of her class. Good student who loved learning. Those are just some of the words Philip ’80 and Martha Hopkins Fitting ’81 used to describe their niece, Jennifer Corbett, who died in 1991 at age 15 as a result of a cancerous brain tumor.
To memorialize this vibrant young girl, who, even while ill, was involved in fundraising for the Ronald McDonald House in Syracuse, N.Y., the Fittings established the Jennifer Corbett Memorial Scholarship. Created three years ago with an initial donation of $10,000, the scholarship will be given annually to needy students whose parents are firefighters, police officers and/or military personnel. The endowed scholarship will be perpetual, as only the interest will be distributed to recipients selected by URI’s Office of Financial Aid.
“Jennifer’s father, Michael, is a Vietnam veteran and professional firefighter who recently retired from the fire department in Watertown, N.Y.,” says Martha. “Phil’s family has a long history of military experience, and it seemed appropriate to include the children of police officers.”
Phil’s father, the late Alfred K. Fitting, was a decorated U.S. Army sergeant who fought in Korea and served three tours in Vietnam. Michael served two tours in Vietnam, and another of Phil’s brothers became a career soldier.
While the Fittings’ options for honoring their niece were numerous, they chose a gift to URI in part because of their longtime affiliation to the University.
Martha’s grandfather, the late Robert A. DeWolf, Hon. ’67, was a URI professor of zoology, and her mother, sister, brother-in-law, and aunt and uncle also earned URI degrees. Martha studied human development and family studies as an undergraduate.
Phil, who earned a bachelor’s degree in finance, also credits the University with his success. He is the managing director of Brookside International, Inc., a private equity, growth, and capital venture firm based in Greenwich, Conn. ”I did not pursue a graduate degree, so the education I received at URI is the basis for all of my professional achievements,” Phil says.
For the Fittings, this scholarship represents their way of giving back and easing the financial strain of a college education. “We attended URI through the assistance of Pell grants, work study, and scholarships. Now that we are in a position to do something, we want to give to someone who really needs it. We know what a burden debt can be,” says Martha.
The Fittings have enjoyed the opportunity to meet and receive letters from the scholarship recipients to date and share these words of wisdom with them: “Take advantage of every learning opportunity you get at URI because you never know when you are going to get another such opportunity,” says Martha. Adds Phil, “when you also reach the point of financial success and can give back to the University, do so.”
