Prudence C. King

PRUDENCE CHRISTINE KING

May 22, 1940 - October 26, 2026

With deep love and profound sadness, the family of Prudence Christine King announces her peaceful passing at Brookhaven on the evening of October 26, 2026. She lived 85 full and accomplished years, modeling intellectual curiosity, humor, and integrity to the very last moment of life.

Born in New York City to Elizabeth Jane Hellebush and MacLellan Edgar King Sr., and brother "Mickey," the family would relocate to Chicago's North Shore. Showing early signs of gifted intellect, Prudy attended the selective Roycemore School, and skipped a grade. She went on to New Trier High School, where she became a strong tennis player - always practicing to beat her brother during his vacations from the Naval Academy. Prudence attended Mount Vernon College, where she served as President of Student Government and graduated salutatorian of her class. After Mount Vernon, Prudence's parents sent her to Katharine Gibbs Secretarial School, where she mastered shorthand and typing. In the years to come, she would use those very skills to redefine the limits of women's achievement in education, excelling beyond what her era imagined possible.

Prudence earned her masters in education from Boston University and rose to the challenge of teaching high school. Her well-timed humor and wit underpinned her popularity as a teacher who could relate to her students while inspiring their personal best. Four evenings a week, she set off in her little green MG convertible, always top down, and sped over to Harvard University, where she earned a doctorate in education. While earning her doctorate and caring for her mother, Prudy met her soulmate. Dan was an MIT-trained engineer, keen philosopher, and the love of her life: the rare man who could match her wit and challenge her intellect. Prudy and Dan could be found kayaking along the Cape, sailing under summer skies, bicycling, or walking along the Saint Charles River. The conjured image of their relationship is the Chinese character for "double joy"; their life together was a two-person seminar on how to live fully, laugh often, and keep the top down, both in the little green convertible and in life itself.

Prudy's twenty-five year career at the University of Massachusetts, Boston was one of continuous growth and significant contributions. She started as a popular professor, sharing her knowledge in education classes and history-oriented seminars. Yet, Prudy's relentless pursuit of new challenges soon led her to the university's administration, where she advanced to the demanding role of Assistant to the Vice Chancellor of Administration and Finance. In this role, she leaves a lasting legacy, having played a key part in designing the master plan that brought new buildings to the campus. During her last years at U Mass, Prudy would pivot once again. She returned to her first love - teacher education. She would serve as Director of the Undergraduate Teacher Education Program until 2006 when she retired to care for Dan.

Beyond her professional life, Prudy was a woman of many passions. Her love for enrichment led to her acceptance into the Harvard Institute for Learning in Retirement (HILR) where she evolved from lively contributor and enthusiastic participant to seminar leader. Letters from peers, long after they'd left Prudy's seminars, spoke to the lasting impact of her dynamic instruction. Yet, Prudy didn't just think deeply; she acted with heart. She served meals to the homeless, volunteered at the animal shelter, and supported local and national causes she believed in, including the fight for desegregation.

After losing Dan to cancer, Prudy dedicated a year to Lesley University where she worked to strengthen and enhance their teacher education program. Next, Prudy would explore the West, spending short chapters in California and Arizona where she worked as the ASU Honorary Associate Dean of the Education Department. Ultimately, she returned to Massachusetts, gravitating toward communities that were rich in thought and stimulating conversation. One such community was the Tufts Osher Program, where she became a master teacher, training others in how to teach lifelong learning classes. At Brookhaven, she found her kindred spirits: a lively mix of intellect and experience. There, she forged meaningful and close friendships within a community where she could easily engage in the kind of deep analytical discussions that both challenged and enchanted her. She especially appreciated being among those who shared her love for Boston area sports.

Prudy's warmth, humor, kindness, and leadership touched everyone fortunate enough to know her. As Prudy's health failed, she taught many who loved her a last, most powerful lesson - courage against unbeatable odds. She will be dearly missed, loved always, and remembered with every wave that meets the shore.

Donations may be made in Prudence's memory to the Brookhaven Employee Scholarship Fund. The donation is made as a check to Brookhaven at Lexington with Employee Scholarship Fund written in the memo line.