Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024
To Our URI Community,
It is with profound sadness that I share with you the difficult news of the death of a member of our University community. Maureen McDermott, director of student involvement and the Memorial Union, passed away on Friday, Nov. 15, following a vehicle-pedestrian accident earlier this month on the Kingston Campus.
For more than four decades, Maureen was an important part of the fabric of our community, serving as a friend and colleague to staff and faculty, and as a compassionate advisor to students. She joined URI in 1981 as a major events coordinator, but it was in student involvement where she found her calling and leaves a lasting and meaningful legacy.
Maureen served as an advisor to many student organizations, and she was an advocate for all of our more than 100 campus organizations. Her passion for our students and for their success both here and beyond our campuses provided a foundation for their achievement and served as an inspiration for colleagues.
Maureen was equally as passionate about the University of Rhode Island and was a proud URI parent. She and her husband, Paul, regularly attended URI sporting events to cheer on the Rams, and their three sons, Ryan, Kevin, and Michael, all graduated from the University.
Maureen’s radiant smile, unwavering dedication to URI, and 43 years of service to the students and staff she lovingly called her Rhody Family have left an indelible mark. Her legacy and impact will be cherished forever.
I recognize that this news will be difficult for many of our students and colleagues. The following University resources are available to you as a member of our community. Please reach out for support if you need it.
Counseling Center
217 Roosevelt Hall; 401-874-2288
24/7 virtual, text, or chat with a counselor via TELUS Health
Dean of Students Office – Student Support and Advocacy Services
302 Memorial Union; 401-874-2098
Health Services
Potter Building; 401-874-2246 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.)
Psychological Consultation Center
Chafee Social Science Center, Suite 100; 401-874-4264
Couples and Family Therapy Clinic
Transition Center, 2 Lower College Rd.; 401-874-5956
Campus Chaplains
URI Chaplains Association; 401-874-2740
The University has been in close contact with Maureen’s family. We wish to convey our heartfelt condolences to them and to Maureen’s many friends, colleagues, and students during this difficult time. Please keep them in your thoughts now and in the coming days.
Sincerely,
Ellen Reynolds
Vice President for Student Affairs