Roger Pearson

Roger L. Pearson, 80, of Lee Ann Drive, Narragansett, a retired faculty member of Providence College, passed away on Wednesday, May 10. He was the husband of Catherine Winfield Pearson. Born in Boston, MA, son of the late William M. and Eleanor (Luke) Pearson. Mr.. Pearson was raised in Providence where he attended Saint Michael’s School and graduated from Cleary School. A 1956 graduate of Wilbraham Academy, Mr. Pearson held a BA in English (Class of 1960) and an MA in English (‘63) from the University of Rhode Island, and a Ph.D. in English from the University of Massachusetts (’70). He joined the faculty of Providence College in 1963 as an instructor of English and retired a Full Professor in 2002. Mr. Pearson served as the Dean of the School of Continuing Education and Chair of the English Department. He was a published scholar in Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Mr. Pearson played football and baseball at the University of Rhode Island. He was the recipient of the LeBeouf Memorial Award and a member of the University of Rhode Island Athletic Hall of Fame. He played baseball for Truro in the Halifax District League in Nova Scotia for two seasons and then signed with the Baltimore Orioles Organization for two seasons. Dr. Pearson also coached football at the collegiate and semi-professional levels. Mr. Pearson was an elected Democrat. He served six years as chairman of the Narragansett School Committee and a two-year term in the Rhode Island State House of Representatives. For many years, he served on the Narragansett Democratic Town Committee and the Rhode Island Democratic State Committee. Besides his wife, Mr. Pearson is survived by a son and two daughters: Roger L. Pearson Jr. (Ann) of Houston, TX, Pamela P. Martin (Dayton), of Kingston, and Martha D. Langer (Michael) of East Greenwich, and four grandchildren. He is also survived by a brother: Mark A. Pearson of Columbia, KY. He was the father of the late Pamela M. Pearson and the brother of the late William M., Jon L., and David M. Pearson. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday, May 16 at 10 a.m. in Saint Thomas More Church, 53 Rockland St., Narragansett followed by interment in Saint Francis Cemetery, Peace Dale. Visiting hours will be Monday, May 15 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Avery-Storti Funeral Home, 88 Columbia St., Wakefield. Contributions may be made in his name to the Fifth Quarter Club of the University of Rhode Island, 3 Keaney Rd., Kingston, RI 02881.