Left to right, Trueson Tarinelli, assistant director, athletic development; Charlie Roberts, vice president of Washington Trust; Gregg Burke, athletics director; Linda Clarke Reinert; Robert Beagle, vice president of University Advancement; and Michele Nota, executive director of Alumni Relations.
Theodore “Ted” Clarke ’40 had a fierce loyalty to and love of URI. A lifelong supporter, he served as president of the Alumni Association and the Century Club.
“My dad’s passion was education,” said his daughter, Linda Clarke Reinert. “As a young man he saw his family struggle through the Depression and lose their home. He saw education as a way to avoid the same troubles in his lifetime.”
When Ted died last year at 89, he didn’t forget his beloved alma mater. He left an additional $116,000 to be added to an existing endowment he established with his wife, the late Elizabeth H. Clarke ’40. Seventy percent of the endowment income provides discretionary funds for the director of athletics and 30 percent supports the URI Library.
“My mother encouraged my sister and me to earn college degrees so that if it were necessary, we would be able to provide for ourselves. Our parents supported their alma mater with their spirit, their loyalty, and their endowment so that others might benefit from a URI education,” explained Linda, who presented the check to the University this spring along with her father’s scrapbook that contains scorecards and photos of his cross country and track days and of other campus events.
“Ted’s passion for URI spanned the University. He was a devoted booster, giving generously of his time and his money to support the athletic program. He could always be seen at games, both home and away,” said Robert Beagle, vice president of University Advancement. “But Ted also supported URI’s academic mission as a donor to the Annual Fund and to our various campaigns, plus through his legacy gift to the Library. For many years he was an active volunteer with the Alumni Association. This kind of volunteerism and philanthropy is inspiring to others and represents Ted’s true legacy as a Rhody Ram.”
Office of Planned Giving, ALUMNI CENTER, 73 Upper College Road, Kingston, RI 02881-2004 Phone: 401-874-2296 or 401-874-5569 • PAUL WITHAM: PWITHAM@ADVANCE.URI.EDU
