The Rev. Dr. Dcn. Dorothy "Ricky" L. Brightman

The Rev. Dr. Dcn. Dorothy "Ricky" L. Brightman, 88, of Warwick, RI, died on Sunday, December 3, 2023, at the HopeHealth Hulitar Hospice Center in Providence, RI. She had been under hospice care due to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis for over 18 months. She is survived by her wife the Rev. Dr. Nancy Hamlin Soukup of Warwick; they had been together for 29 years and married for 10.
Ricky was the daughter of the late L. Chandler Brightman and Marian Webber Brightman of Warwick. She was born in Providence and grew up in Warwick attending public schools there. After graduating from Tufts University (Bouvé School) with a B.S. in physical education, she received a M.S. in education from the University of Connecticut, Storrs. She did additional graduate work at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, earning an EdD. She rounded out her academic career with a M.S.L.S. from Simmons University. She rarely mentioned her academic credentials to people, preferring for them to meet her without the overlay of initials after her name.
A physical education teacher, Ricky taught at Warwick's Vets Memorial High School and Pilgrim High School. While working in public schools, Ricky joined several colleagues to form the Rhode Island Girls' Interscholastic League; this was at a time before the league included girls in sports. In 1970, Ricky became the Athletic Director at the Wheeler School in Providence. Then in 1976, when Moses Brown School returned to coeducation, Ricky was hired as an associate athletic director to help lead and reorganize the girls' athletic program. Ten years later, Ricky served as director of community service and taught computer science. She finished her Moses Brown career as a librarian. Upon her retirement in 2007, she was inducted into the Moses Brown Athletic Hall of Fame.
As Ricky approached retirement, another chapter began in her life when she decided to pursue ordination as a permanent deacon in the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island. At the time, she was the first woman Senior Warden of the Episcopal Cathedral of St. John. The focus of her ministry was with disenfranchised communities in the city of Providence; she eventually served as the permanent deacon for the Church Beyond the Walls ministry in the city. She also was placed at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, East Greenwich and Church of the Epiphany, Rumford. She was involved with many diocesan committees, including Episcopal Charities, Diocesan Council, and the Cathedral Chapter, She also was a part of the Providence Intown Church's Association and chair of the former George Hunt (HELP) Center,
In addition to her church activities, she became the registrar at the Narragansett Boat Club in 2008. At the Club, she continued her support for youth in sports and even encountered former students learning to row. Her time at NBC brought her professional life full circle.
Ricky will be remembered for her long-time advocacy for youth in sports, especially equal access for girls in sports; her ability to build bridges among different groups of people; and her sense of justice for the disenfranchised. Most of all, her family and friends will miss her brilliant intellect, her dry sense of humor, and her abundantly creative imagination-all of this wrapped up in a quiet, unassuming presence.
In addition to her wife, she is survived by her brother, Richard Chandler Brightman of Hailey, ID; a nephew, Andrew Chandler Brightman (Kathyrn) of San Diego, CA, and three nieces, Jessica (Danny), Allison, and Hope. Among her other survivors are cousins Elizabeth Cox Sylla (Keba) of Queens, NY, and their daughter Kayla; Marjorie Brightman Catanzaro (Robert) of Warwick, RI; and Howard S. Brightman (Laura) of Cambridge, MA, and their sons Lincoln and Daniel. She also is survived by Nancy's family: Lucille A. Soukup, Alan Soukup and his children Amy and Brian, Betty Soukup Blackburn (Ronald) and their children Jessica and Patrick, and Katie Soukup. She will be missed greatly by her beloved dog, Nellie Gilles Brightman.
Ricky's family wants to acknowledge the excellent care she received from her hospice team at HopeHealth Hospice Care. Her doctor, nurse case managers, and CNAs became like family to us through the many months Ricky was on service, as did her home health aides.
A Service to celebrate Ricky's life will be held on Saturday, January 27, 2024 at 11:00AM at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 99 Peirce Street, East Greenwich, RI 02818. Calling hours will be held at the church from 9:30AM to 10:30AM. Burial will be private.
Funeral Arrangements have been entrusted to THE URQUHART-MURPHY FUNERAL HOME
800 Greenwich Avenue, Warwick, RI.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Church Beyond the Walls, Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island, Attn: Church Beyond the Walls, 275 North Main Street, Providence, RI 02903, Donation (eservicepayments.com); or to HopeHealth Hospice Care, Attn: Philanthropy, 1085 North Main Street, Providence, RI 02904, Donate to HopeHealth Hospice & Palliative Care - HopeHealth (hopehealthco.org).