Alfred James Shepherd

SHEPHERD, ALFRED JAMES Lt. Cdr. U.S.N. (Ret.), 90, of Bristol, died Wednesday at Newport Hospital following a brief illness. He was the husband of Mary Howe DeWolf Fulton Shepherd and the late Claudia DeWolf Shepherd.

Born in San Francisco, he was the son of the late Alfred John Shepherd and Cleo Powell. He was a graduate of San Francisco State University, and he earned a Masters Degree at Rhode Island College. He was a lifelong supporter of education and the arts.

He joined the Navy as an apprentice seaman and in his 22 years of service rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He served in the Pacific in WWII. Following the war he served in Key West, Florida, as an on-board communications officer during excursions with President Harry Truman.

He began his work as a counselor at Roger Williams College in Providence in 1956, and when the college was moved to the Fulton Campus in Bristol, he continued on the staff until his retirement in 1985. He remained active with the University and was particuarly supportive of its library and theater arts programs.

Lt. Cdr. Shepherd was also a financial supporter and member of numerous local causes and organizations, including the Bristol Historical and Preservation Society where he served a term as President, Linden Place, Friends of Rogers Free Library, Redwood Library, Salve Regina University Circle of Scholars, R.I., Shakespeare Society, Blithewold Gardens and Arboretum, Herreshoff Marine Museum, Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology, Rhode Island Community Foundation and United Way of Rhode Island. His generous support enabled Mt. Hope Farm in Bristol to become a public preserve. He was also a member of the St. Albanas Lodge of Freemasons.

A communicant of St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Bristol, he is survived by his wife Mary Howe Shepherd; a niece Diane Putnam of Nevada; a sister-in-law, Denise Shepherd of California; eight step-children, 15 step-grandchildren and 4 step-great-grandchildren. He was the Godfather of Rosie Fulton.

His funeral service will be held Tuesday, June 6th at 10 AM at St. Michael's Church. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Friends of Rogers Free Library, 525 Hope St., Bristol, RI 02809. Arrangements with William J. Smith & Son Funeral Home, 15 Church St., Warren. Visit www.wjsmithfh.com for online condolences.