Clifford James Cosgrove

COSGROVE, CLIFFORD JAMES, 81, of Ozona, Florida, died on July 24 in Woodside Hospice House, in Pinellas Park, Florida with his three children by his side.

He was Professor Emeritus at the University of Rhode Island and a former long-time South Kingstown resident. Prof. Cosgrove taught dairy science and food nutrition at the University of Rhode Island for 37 years from 1953 to 1990. During the 1970s, he took a 4 year leave of absence to help establish and operate dairies in Chile and Brazil under the auspices of the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization. His professional specialty and personal passion was the creation of high quality ice cream. He was an active member of many local organizations. An avid world traveler, Prof. Cosgrove visited six continents during his lifetime and made friends everywhere he went. Following his retirement from the university, Prof. Cosgrove relocated to Florida but returned to South Kingstown several times each year to visit his daughter and his friends in the area. He also loved to travel to visit his youngest son and family in Virginia and spent several weeks each year in Hawaii, which he considered another home.

Originally one of 12 children, Prof. Cosgrove is survived by his brother Richard of Panama City, Fla. A loving father and grandfather, Prof. Cosgrove also leaves behind his three children: Matthew Cosgrove of Sarasota, Fla., Ann Thornton of Wakefield, R.I., and James Cosgrove of Herndon, Va.; along with his three grandchildren: Meghan Thornton, Eileen Cosgrove, and Emily Cosgrove.

Prof. Cosgrove served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Burial with full military honors was in R.I. Veterans' Memorial Cemetery last Friday. A celebration of life service will be conducted at the Kingston Congregational Church on Saturday, Sept. 6 at 11 a.m.