Seth Kelley Gifford

Seth K. Gifford II died on November 8, 2025, just three weeks shy of his 104th birthday. His was a long, quiet life, spent entirely in Rhode Island.

Born in Providence, Seth attended Moses Brown School, Brown University, and Boston College Law school at night, while working for the governor Roberts as a speech writer. He went on to practice general law, first in Providence and later in Wakefield. He was an active member of the ACLU and served his turn as president of the Rhode Island Bar Association.

After his wife Elizabeth died n 1975, Seth transformed his life. He partnered with Margaret Dillman and become a gentleman farmer, raising chrysanthemums, hostas, and blueberries. He and Peg were avid tennis players and skiers.

Seth Gifford was a Quaker who lived the Quaker values of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality and stewardship, and this will be his invaluable legacy. His children never heard a loud voice or a harsh word. During World War Two, he was a conscientious objector. As part of this service, he was subjected to medical experiments that included being given pneumonia to test the first antibiotics. Thus, he risked his life for his country in accordance with his pacifist values.

Seth died peacefully at home, surrounded by his three children, Patricia, Cynthia, and Seth III (Turhana); five grandchildren: Abel (Amber) and Daniel (Jess) Collins, Sheyna (Benjamin) Gifford and Benjamin (Carmen) Bauer, and Lantari Gifford; and six great-grandchildren; as well as an extended family that includes Karl, David and Brenda Dillman, Clarkson Collins, Bonnie Wolfe, and Cherrie Perkins. He was predeceased by his wife Elizabeth, his son-in-law Mark Sachar, and virtually all his peers.

In Quaker philosophy, when we attend to the divine in ourselves and others, the way will open. In life and memory, to have known Seth Gifford is to have been shown the way.

Services will be private. In lieu of flowers please give to Hope Hospice, Doctors Without Borders, or the charity of your choice.