Kenneth E. Dion

On September 16th, 2025, Kenneth Edward Dion peacefully transitioned from our physical world and passed on to the next, surrounded by his family, friends, students, and players whose lives he influenced so deeply.

Born and raised in Cranston, Rhode Island on February 11, 1943, Ken Dion excelled as a high school football player where he led the State in touchdowns as a full back at LaSalle Academy in 1960. He then went on to the University of Rhode Island and later graduated from Rhode Island College with a bachelor’s degree in education in 1969. For over 30 years Mr. Dion worked as a special education teacher in the City of Providence where he headed the Occupational Education Program (OEP), which was designed to address difficult behavior and disciplinary cases as well as illiteracy within the Providence School System.

Mr. Dion was also a counselor at Bradley Hospital in East Providence for over 14 years. During the last 10 years of his career Mr. Dion was the head football coach at Hope High School.

During his off time as an educator and coach, Ken worked as a contractor and property developer, building several high end homes in Jamestown, Narragansett and Ridgewood Estates in Cranston.

Throughout his life Ken was an avid tennis player, frequenting tennis clubs throughout the State and passing time with his friends at the tennis courts at Roger Williams Park.

A devoted and loyal husband and father, Ken met his wife Arlene Eacueo at 13 years old and remained her best friend and loving companion for the next 70 years. Always the great narrator of a meaningful anecdote, his wisdom, advice, courage and legacy will live on not only with his family and friends, but within the community that he invested himself in so profoundly.

Besides his wife, he leaves three children, Michelle Tristani of Lincoln, Todd S. Dion and his fiancé Kara Paolella of East Greenwich and Kenneth B. Dion and his wife Nicole of Boca Raton, FL; two brothers, Russell Dion of Ormond Beach, FL and Ronald Dion of Bradenton, FL; and four grandchildren, Arianna Tristani, Anthony Tristani, Nathaniel Dion and Alessandra Dion.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, September 20, 2025 at 10am in St. Augustine Church, 639 Mount Pleasant Avenue, Providence. Burial will be in St. Ann Cemetery, Cranston.