Richard Norman Downey

Richard Norman Downey, 78, of Narragansett, RI passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 28, 2016 at his home. He was born April 13, 1938 in Milford, CT to the late Thomas N. Downey and Mildred Edna (Mansfield) Downey. In 1957, he graduated from Milford High School in Milford, CT. He was a star football and basketball player. He was awarded a football scholarship to University of Miami, Florida. He also played football for Southern Connecticut State University and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education. In 1962, he married his high school sweetheart, Ruth Patricia (McGirr) of Milford, CT. Richard and Ruth Patricia initially raised their family in Milford and moved to Narragansett, RI in 1976 Besides his wife, he is survived by his loving sons, Richard Clinton Downey of Warwick, RI and Trevor Norman Downey of Santa Cruz, CA., beloved grandson, Andrew Cruz Downey, former daughter-in-law, Patricia Cruz Downey; a brother, Thomas Wayne Downey, MD (Joan) of Guilford, CT, sisters Pamela Downey Dodge (Tony} of Whispering Pines, NC., and Deborah Downey Afasano (Raymond) of Clearwater, FL. Richard is also survived by loving nieces, nephews, friends and colleagues. All will sorely miss his outgoing personality, sense of humor, and engaged approach to life. Richard is well known as “Coach.” He began his career in football at Milford Academy, Milford, CT, before moving to the position of defensive coach at the University of Rhode Island (URI). He was part of Head Coach Robert Griffin’s coaching staff. He devoted himself to the development of the players and was a role model to the young men on the team. Dick successfully developed a business focused on marketing sports equipment and apparel to high schools and colleges in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Maine. He treated his customers as friends and went over and above to give them excellent service until the time of his death. “Coach” continued to be actively involved in training high school football players in Rhode Island at Narragansett High School, North Kingstown High School and Cranston East High School through the Fall 2015 season. He successfully completed 53 years of coaching with devotion to the players and to nurturing new coaches, Richard has been honored over the years with the awarding of the Milford Academy Founder’s Appreciation Recognition (1990), The URI Fifth Quarter Club Appreciation Award (1992), Rhode Island Football Coaches Hall of Fame (2003), Providence Gridiron Club Hall of Fame (2004), Rhode Island High School Football Coaches Association (2004), Rhode Island Chapter of the National Football Foundation (2012). Coach received an award from the Governor’s Cup Committee for his contributions to the CT/RI High School All-Stars. Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Thursday, June 2, at Avery-Storti Funeral Home, 88 Columbia St., Wakefield, RI. A funeral prayer service will be held Friday, June 3 at 10:00 a.m. at Avery-Storti Funeral Home with burial to follow in New Fernwood Cemetery, Kingston, RI. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Coach Downey’s honor to: URI Fifth Quarter Club, c/o Athletics, 3 Keaney Drive, Kingston, RI 02881.