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Ira Wellins Obituary
He owned Bayshore Pharmacy in Warwick for 32 years, serving many thousands of nursing home patients and checking each for unwanted drug interactions. In the '78 blizzard, he walked 8 miles to fill vital prescriptions. His forward thinking and dedication led to lectureships at URI and Mass. Colleges of Pharmacy. He was named 1986 RI Pharmacist of the Year, 1976 New England Pharmacist of the Year, and 1977 Preceptor of the Year (URI Coll. of Pharm.) 'for high standards of professionalism, ethics, and clinical practice.'
In retirement he was a Roger Williams Park Zoo docent for 18 years; he penned the 'Ask Ira' zoo news column and was named Docent of the Year.
Born in the Bronx, Ira graduated from Conn. College of Pharmacy before serving in WWII. First Lt. Wellins was a secret 'Mickey' radar bombardier who navigated the lead plane in 29 bombing missions over Germany, earning three Air Medals and a Distinguished Flying Cross.
Ira loved adventure, crewing on a sail from Florida to RI and camping as far west as Alaska with Frankie, his beloved wife of 61 years. He donated his remains to Brown University Medical School. A keen wit and wonderful husband and father, he is missed by his wife, daughters Dr. Diane Moul (Andy) of Providence and Nancy Wellins (Michael Charles) of Maryland, and grandchildren Ricca, Samantha, and Ari.
A celebration of Ira's life will be held at on Sunday, March 8 at 2 pm at Temple Beth El, 70 Orchard Ave, Providence. Donations in Ira's memory to the RI Zoological Society.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Ira Wellins
Pam Sharpe
March 18, 2009
Dear Mrs. Wellins,
I was saddened to hear that Mr. Wellins has passed away. My deepest sympathy goes out to you and your family.
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Pam Sharpe (your newspaper carrier)
Nancy Wellins
March 15, 2009
From Ira's daughter -
To all who appreciated Ira in his life:
A permanent website in my Dad's memory may be viewed at www.irawellins.blogspot.com. There are links there to online photo albums, eulogies from his family, and other information. Thanks for your expressions of sympathy.
Bonnie Jaffe
March 5, 2009
Dear Frankie,Please know our thoughts are with at this time.What an inspiration ! With heartfelt sympathy.Bonnie & Marc jaffe
Rose Iannone
March 5, 2009
Mrs. Wellins, I was so very sorry to hear of Ira's passing. I, too, am a docent at the zoo and Ira has been a friend and mentor to me for 13 years. I first became a docent in 1995 and Ira was an instructor in my docent classes. I had to leave the zoo due to health concerns and went back to docent class in 2000. Ira remembered me and welcomed me with open arms. He made me feel as though I were family returning to the fold. I will miss his wit and all his "Ira-isms". He was a great man and a wonderful friend.
Rose Iannone
Zoo Docent
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Fran Wellins Foley
March 4, 2009
Dear Frankie & family,
Although separated by distance and years, I will always be connected to my wonderful cousin Ira with my very early memories of him and our shared Wellins history of the same grandfather and ancestors. I was grateful to renew our cousin relationship in 1995 and spend some time with him and you.
He will always be fondly remembered
Our thoughts are with you.
cousin Fran Wellins Foley
Rabbi Edward Cohen
March 3, 2009
I am so sorry to here of Ira's passing and recall when I was doing family history work in the New Britain Library. There was a full article written by Ira during WWII near his airplane. He sent pictures exclusively to the New Britain Herald showing the liberation of a concentration camp and the Jewish prisioners who survived and remains of those who did not. It was very moving. He had a good Neshama (soul) and I thought many times of his place in history. Frank Welinsky was his grandfather and my gr grandfather. Our family tree is as follows:
Meyer Vilenchik b abt 1710 Lithuania
Abel Vilenchik b abt 1740 Lithuania
Shlomo (Shimel) Vilenchik b 1767 d 1833 in Vilkija, Lithuania
Meyer Vilenchik b 1802 Vilkija d 1880 in Rumsiskis Lithuania
Menahem Mendel Vilenchik, Vilensky and later Welinsky b 1842 Rumsiskis, Lithuania d 18 oct 1893 New York City (buried in Brooklyn in Washington Cemetery) He came to america on the ss Michigan on 29 oct 1888 from Liverpool.
Frank Welinsky b jul 1868 Rumsiskis Lithuania and died 12 oct 1936 New Britain, Ct
Milton Robert Wellins b 10 jul 1893 in the lower east side of New York and died 14 jul 1976 Cranston, RI
Kelly Nevins
March 3, 2009
Dear Frankie and Family,
I was sad to hear this news. My deepest sympathies are with you at this time. Know that you are loved.
Cheryl and Jon London
March 3, 2009
Dear Frankie, Our sympathy to you and yours. Ira was not only a wonderful friend to us, he was a neighbor who we could not have hand picked and done better. How fortunate we were to have known him. A true gentleman who I am sure will be missed by all who knew him. The London's
Samuel Rouslin
March 2, 2009
Dear Frankie and Family,
Ira was someone very special. He was dear to us. We miss him.
As Always
Sam & Jean Rouslin
Elle Merchant
March 2, 2009
Dear Frankie,
Jeni and I send you our deepest sympathy to you and your family. They say time heals all wounds, but we will never forget.
Dennis L Bouchard
March 2, 2009
Dear Frankie and Family:
Please accept my deepest sympathy on the loss of your dear Ira. He was an amazing man, with an infectious smile. I so looked forward to events at The Players so that I could see my good friend. He will truly be missed by all of us.
With Love,
Dennis
Edward Hooks
March 2, 2009
Dearest Frankie,
I share your lost and extend my deepest sympathy. Ira was a good friend and mentor. I looked forward to working the days he voluntered. We would always respond when asked "How long have you known one another?" Since the dinosaurs!
Again my sincerest sympathy to you.
Edward "Mr. Ed" Hooks
Nancy Lewis
March 1, 2009
I became a docent at the zoo in 2002. I was blessed to have been on the same volunteer shift with Ira. He, along with Mr. Ed. were my mentors. I learned so very much from Ira. He loved the animals at the zoo and was always willing to share whatever he knew....with a smile. I was lucky to call him my friend.
Sherry Waldman
March 1, 2009
Dear Frankie,
Ira was such a sweetheart, always loving and giving to my daughters and me when we would see him at the Zoo. We will miss his warm smile and heartfelt greetings!
Love,
Sherry (fellow docent since 2001)
Jean Lynch
March 1, 2009
Losing Ira is a loss to everyone!!
He was the most amazing person I ever met right to the end.
My Deepest Sympathy to His Family.
Karen McAninch and Steve Markovitz
March 1, 2009
From the Markovitz/McAninches to the Wellins/Moul/Gaus/Charleses - he will be missed! We're thinking back to the Friday Group days and the scout trip to the zoo, indeed many zoo trips...our hearts go out to all of you. Steve & Karen
dick silverman
March 1, 2009
Frankie
Thinking of you.
Dick Silverman
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