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Arthur Benjamin Stein
Arthur Stein Obituary
WAKEFIELD, RI- Dr. Arthur Benjamin Stein, beloved husband, father, brother, teacher, mentor, and friend, peacefully passed away on October 24, 2025. He was born on August 25, 1937, in Phillipsburg, PA, the eldest son of Mary Abelson Stein and Dr. Samuel Stein.
Growing up, Art was a gifted athlete, student, and friend. He pitched a legendary no-hitter for his Little League team and was voted Most Likely to Succeed in high school. As a professor, he connected meaningfully with each of his students, influencing their lives in profound and lasting ways.
Those who knew Art will remember his gentle presence, warm smile, and ability to uplift everyone around him.
Art earned his undergraduate degree from Pennsylvania State University and a Ph.D. In International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a Woodrow Wilson Fellow. His graduate work included a Fulbright Fellowship at the University of Melbourne, Australia, and research in India. He was a world traveler!
He joined the University of Rhode Island faculty in 1965 and taught for fifty years, retiring as a Professor Emeritus in Political Science. A lifelong advocate for peace and justice, Art was outspoken about the causes he believed in. He created innovative courses on peacebuilding, nonviolence, mindfulness, and environmental responsibility. In 1986, he received the URI Foundation Teaching Award for his commitment to human rights and concern for the environment.
In 1999, Art and his colleague Dr. Bernard LaFayette Jr. co-founded the Center for Nonviolence & Peace Studies at URI, an internationally recognized hub for promoting understanding and reconciliation. Art also served in the Honors Program, the Multicultural Center, and the Feinstein Community Service Center. His
many honors include the Peacemaker Award (2007) and the International Nonviolence Trainers Award (2023).
A prolific author, Art wrote several books, including Seeds of the Seventies: Values, Work and Commitment in Post Vietnam America and Let There Be Light: Experiencing Inner Light Across the Worlds Sacred Traditions.
Art was deeply connected to his community. He co-founded the Alternative Food Co-op and was co-owner of The Merciful Lion, South County's first vegetarian restaurant. A lifelong practitioner of meditation and yoga, he was involved with the Science of Spirituality, editing its international monthly publication for decades.
Art lived fully, loved deeply, and inspired all who knew him. His legacy lives on in the many students with whom he made lifelong connections, and with his many friends who work for peace and justice. His light will continue to shine brightly!
He is survived by his loving wife, Clare Sartori; his daughters, Lisa Stein and Arielle Stein (husband Bryan Hughes); brothers Harold (wife Nancy) and Chuck (wife Vickie); and nieces, nephews, and extended family.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Art Stein Scholarship for Nonviolence & Peace Studies at the University of Rhode Island for students engaged in nonviolence, peace, and building beloved community from the personal to the global level.
Growing up, Art was a gifted athlete, student, and friend. He pitched a legendary no-hitter for his Little League team and was voted Most Likely to Succeed in high school. As a professor, he connected meaningfully with each of his students, influencing their lives in profound and lasting ways.
Those who knew Art will remember his gentle presence, warm smile, and ability to uplift everyone around him.
Art earned his undergraduate degree from Pennsylvania State University and a Ph.D. In International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a Woodrow Wilson Fellow. His graduate work included a Fulbright Fellowship at the University of Melbourne, Australia, and research in India. He was a world traveler!
He joined the University of Rhode Island faculty in 1965 and taught for fifty years, retiring as a Professor Emeritus in Political Science. A lifelong advocate for peace and justice, Art was outspoken about the causes he believed in. He created innovative courses on peacebuilding, nonviolence, mindfulness, and environmental responsibility. In 1986, he received the URI Foundation Teaching Award for his commitment to human rights and concern for the environment.
In 1999, Art and his colleague Dr. Bernard LaFayette Jr. co-founded the Center for Nonviolence & Peace Studies at URI, an internationally recognized hub for promoting understanding and reconciliation. Art also served in the Honors Program, the Multicultural Center, and the Feinstein Community Service Center. His
many honors include the Peacemaker Award (2007) and the International Nonviolence Trainers Award (2023).
A prolific author, Art wrote several books, including Seeds of the Seventies: Values, Work and Commitment in Post Vietnam America and Let There Be Light: Experiencing Inner Light Across the Worlds Sacred Traditions.
Art was deeply connected to his community. He co-founded the Alternative Food Co-op and was co-owner of The Merciful Lion, South County's first vegetarian restaurant. A lifelong practitioner of meditation and yoga, he was involved with the Science of Spirituality, editing its international monthly publication for decades.
Art lived fully, loved deeply, and inspired all who knew him. His legacy lives on in the many students with whom he made lifelong connections, and with his many friends who work for peace and justice. His light will continue to shine brightly!
He is survived by his loving wife, Clare Sartori; his daughters, Lisa Stein and Arielle Stein (husband Bryan Hughes); brothers Harold (wife Nancy) and Chuck (wife Vickie); and nieces, nephews, and extended family.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Art Stein Scholarship for Nonviolence & Peace Studies at the University of Rhode Island for students engaged in nonviolence, peace, and building beloved community from the personal to the global level.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Published by Independentri.com on Nov. 27, 2025.
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