Sept. 19, 2025

The University mourns the loss of Wayne King Durfee, of Saunderstown, who passed away on Sept. 2, at 100. 

Born in North Scituate, Professor Durfee is survived by his children, William and Bonnie, and several grandchildren. His family calls him a humble genius who helped educate generations of graduate students in both poultry science and later aquaculture at URI.

Born at home, Wayne was a mischievous, inquisitive young man. A self-described mediocre student, often skipping school at Central High School to take in a movie or shenanigans with his brothers, he grew up during the Great Depression, learning the meaning of hard work and practical skills. After “barely” graduating, he worked at Brown and Sharpe before enlisting in the Navy to serve his country during WWII. During the war he served as a torpedoman on the USS Ira Jeffery, assuring vital supplies made it to allies in Europe. Toward the end of the war, he worked on electric torpedo testing on Gould Island in Newport.

After the war, Wayne attended URI on the GI Bill and met the love of his life, Bernice. He graduated in 1950; they married in 1951, living at Fort Kearney (now the URI Bay Campus). When they would drive to the college, they would pass a modest little ranch on Bridgetown Road. Wayne would tell Bernice, “That will be our home one day.” They ultimately bought that house, creating a sanctuary as the surrounding land developed around them. Their one and only residence for 74 years, it’s where Wayne spent his last day in life.

After receiving his Ph.D. at Rutgers, Wayne returned to Rhode Island to teach at URI. In 1978 the poultry science program was phased out and he transitioned to aquaculture. Although it was hard to appreciate at the time, a family/work trip was made to Scotland in 1978 where Wayne was involved in studying why the salmon population was declining in Scotland’s rivers even though there were fish ladders. Come to find out, the problem with the salmon was due to the water released through the hydroelectric turbines, not the fish getting upstream. Today, water releases are timed to allow the smolt to make a safe journey to the ocean.

In retirement, Wayne stayed busy. For years, he and Bernice hosted a South Ferry walking tour where their guests could relive life in the Bay Campus area during all the wars, from the Revolutionary to WWII. Wayne also established the Rhode Island heritage flock of Rhode Island Reds at the South County Museum. Every year he would personally oversee two hatchings for observation and handling during July so young visitors could witness Rhode Island’s state birds hatching. He performed this duty for 20 years until he was 100 years old. At URI, Wayne also created scholarship programs for deserving students.

Visitation and a celebration of life will be held on Oct. 1 at the Carpenter-Jenks Funeral Home, West Warwick, followed by Wayne’s funeral service. 

To view his full obituary, or to leave condolences, please visit Carpenter-Jenks Funeral Home.