Ruth P. Downey

Ruth Patricia (Pat) Downey passed from this life at South County Hospital, Wakefield, Rhode Island due a difficult illness. Pat kept her spirits high and family and friends close by as she coped with each new health challenge.

Pat was born in Milford, CT to Frederick McGirr and Ruth Carlson McGirr on January 21, 1941 in Milford, CT. Pat spent her growing up years playing piano, climbing trees and making new friends. A graduate of Milford High School, she was a popular young woman and an early fashionista. Cheerleading, Rainbow Girls and Keyette Club kept her busy. After high school, Pat attended the University of Bridgeport for business administration and accounting.

Marriage to Dick Downey, her high school sweetheart, was the start of a new round of life adventures.

Pat and Dick enjoyed a dynamic marriage centered at Milford Academy with coaching and mentoring young athletes.

There, they added two sons to their family, Richard Clinton Downey and Trevor Norman Downey.

Life was busy on the Milford campus with Pat working at Southern New England Telephone Company while Dick coached football and mentored young male students. They immersed themselves in campus adventures with their sons, students, colleagues, and new young families.

A move to Narragansett, RI in 1976, introduced Pat to working at URI Bay Campus where she rode her bike each day up and down the hills from home. Dick worked as an assistant defensive coach at URI and traveled with the team each fall. Football became an integral part of life.

Pat left URI and moved on to use her organizational skills and business acumen at Christ the King

Catholic Church in Kingston, RI. She enjoyed keeping the work of the church organized and centered on the growing parish. She loved her work and the daily interactions with Father Joseph Creedin, Jennifer Marren, parishioners and staff.

Andrew Cruz Downey is Pat’s beloved grandson.He has beenI the light of her life for twenty years. Grandmother and grandson spent much time together as Pat taught him life skills, and they shared adventures of of love and learning through the years. They learned together through love and caring.

In her later years, Pat enjoyed a busy retirement with knitting, sewing,,creating stained glass art and becoming a master gardener. She studied at URI in the Master Gardener’s curriculum.

Pat became a woman with the love of nature in her heart. Her creativity blossomed and her enthusiasm grew with like-minded colleagues freely sharing knowledge. Pat focused on the nature of gardening, learning, planning, planting, and gleaning the joy from her new avocation.

As a friend to many, Pat was admired and respected in the community while enjoying over 64 years of friendships from her time in Milford. Pat traveled in the USA for football games, vacationed in the Maine, the Caribbean, Australia, Ireland, and Scotland.

Pat is survived by sons, Richard Clinton Downey of Cranston, Trevor Norman Downey of St. Augustine, FL, grandson, Andrew Downey of North Kingstown, RI, sisters Bettejane Hopkins, Deep River,CT; Doreen Kane, Washington,DC, sisters-in-law Deborah Afasano, Clearwater, FL, Pamela Dodge, Whispering Pines, NC, Joan Downey, Guilford, CT and loving nieces and nephews.

Thank you to dear friends Leslie Thomas, Sue McPartlin, Rene Bertrand, Micheal Montle,and Ray

Carleglio for the help and support they lovingly provided during Pat’s illness.

A graveside service will be held Saturday, November 4, 2023, at 11:00 am in New Fernwood Cemetery, Kingstown, RI. Family and friends are invited to gather after the burial at the Carriage Inn, 1065 Tower Hill Road, North Kingstown 20853 to remember our Pat and celebrate her life.

In lieu of flowers, donations are welcomed in support of the Master Gardeners program at URI.