Lenore “Lee” Angela (D’Onofrio) DeLucia, 87 of Wakefield passed peacefully at home on Monday, August 5, 2024 after a valiant battle with cancer. She was predeceased by her husband Clement “Ken” with whom she shared 56 years before his passing in 2016.
Born October 11, 1936 in the Bronx, NY, she was the daughter of the late Alfred and Katherine D’Onofrio.
After growing up in the Bronx, Wisconsin, and Ohio, Lee attended Brown University (then Pembroke College). She went on to the State University of Iowa, but returned to Brown for her PhD when she couldn’t bear to be apart from the love of her life who she’d met while at Brown.
Lee was a very accomplished woman for her time. Upon graduation from Brown, she took a job at Rhode Island College and spent 10 years as a faculty member before going on to become the associate Dean of the School of Education. She spent two years as the Acting Dean of the School of Education and then established Rhode Island College’s Office of Institutional Research and Planning. During the last fourteen years of her 42-year tenure, she was the Vice President for Administration and Finance. During that time, she launched an impressive capital campaign to renovate many older buildings on the campus. Lee loved her RIC coworkers and always told people that she had served there at the “best of times.”
Lee was recognized for her hard work and accomplishments by being named Outstanding Young Woman of RI in1970 and Outstanding Educator of America in 1971. In 1977 she was named Outstanding Woman of the Year by the Jamestown Business and Professional Women's Association.
Lee was elected to the Jamestown School Committee in 1969 and served for seven years, most of which she was the chairperson. Under her tenure, the Melrose School was constructed. Lee also served as the Chair of the Democratic Town Committee in Jamestown for several years.
Following retirement, Lee and Ken moved to Wakefield to be closer to their family, especially their grandchildren. Lee tried to attend every sporting event her grandchildren participated in and was relied upon as the “team statistician” by some of the coaches. Family was most important to her, and we will all miss our weekly Friday night dinners with mandatory Jeopardy watching, and Sunday morning breakfasts.
As Lee was one to stay engaged and involved, she became active in her homeowner’s association at the Preserve at South County Commons. Lee served on the board for over six years, assuming the presidency in the later half. She felt that she had served the homeowners well in her role there. Her neighbors were so good to her for the last several years and their kindness is greatly appreciated by her family.
When she moved to Wakefield, Lee discovered the game of Mahjong and was a very competitive player. She looked forward to her Thursday Mahjong games and avoided making any commitments that might interfere with that sacred day. Her Mahjong friends were also very good to her and accommodated her limited mobility by helping her host in her own home. She played up until just over a week before her passing and was still winning the most games. In true statistician fashion, she kept close tabs on her annual winnings.
In her last several months, Lee had an amazing group of caregivers without whom Lee wouldn’t have been able to stay at home. We are forever grateful to them for their love and assistance.
Lee leaves a daughter Karen Pinch of Wakefield, her husband Steve, a grandson Ryan Pinch of Berkeley, CA and a granddaughter Emily Pinch of Boston, MA. She was also preceded in death by her brother Alfred D’Onofrio, Jr. and she leaves behind his children Anne Voxman, Michael D'Onofrio, Steve D’Onofrio, Julie D’Onofrio and John D’Onofrio. She also leaves two nieces, Cheryl DeLucia and Denise Mitsuma.
Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, August 7, 2024 from 9-10:30am in the fa*gan-Quinn Funeral Home, 825 Boston Neck Road, North Kingstown. A Mass of Christian Burial will immediately follow at 11:30am in Christ the King Church, 180 Old North Rd, Kingston, RI. Her burial will be private at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the DeLucia Family Scholarship Fund. Checks may be made payable to the Rhode Island College Foundation, 600 Mt. Pleasant Avenue, Providence, RI 02908.
Posted online on August 05, 2024
Published in Providence Journal
