Search by Name

Add a Memory

Send Flowers

Make a Donation

Share Obituary

About

Rhode Island School for the Deaf Rhode Island School of Design University of Rhode Island

FUNERAL HOME

Urquhart-Murphy Funeral Home - Warwick

800-812 Greenwich Avenue

Warwick, Rhode Island

Thomas King Obituary

KING, THOMAS P. 65, of Jupiter, FL died unexpectedly on March 31. He was born in Providence, the son of the late Francis King and Margaret King Cavanagh. Loving husband of the late Joan Doucette King and father to Sean King of Temecula, CA; Mikaela Reyes of Matunuck and Laura King of Providence, Tom was blessed with 6 grandchildren; Taylor, Hunter, Chloe, Tomas, Alexandra and Baby West. Survivors include his brother Kernan King and sister Kathleen King. Tom discovered his deep interest and love of Art early on as a student of Gino Conti, an accomplished RISD artist. He pursued his passion, graduating from URI and the MFA program at RISD. His enthusiasm for dimensional art evolved during his Independent Study Program at the Whitney Museum in NY. Tom taught art in Plymouth, MA and Scituate, RI and was an Adjunct Professor at RI College. His other passions included family, surfing, cycling, and above all.he was a lover of all things Matunuck! Calling Hours will be held on Tuesday, April 5 from 4:00-7:00 at THE URQUHART-MURPHY FUNERAL HOME, 800 Greenwich Avenue, Route 5, Warwick, RI (Exit 12A on I-95). A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 6. at 11:00 am in Christ the King Church, 180 Old North Road, Kingston, RI. Burial will be private. Contributions in memory of his late wife, Joan, can be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 245 Waterman St., Suite 306, Providence, RI 02906. www.murphyfuneralhomes.org

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Providence Journal on Apr. 4, 2016.

Memories and Condolences
for Thomas King

39 Entries

April 12, 2016

"Loved all things Matunuck" was the phrase we all related to if you were lucky enough to have passed your childhood years there, in Matunuck. Any one of the gang, of which Tommy was a part would have been known for saying the same. I was sad to read this news and sorry not to have known about it sooner.
He was a whimsical, make you laugh-out-loud kind of person, always kind, always with a sweet innocence and I know more than a few who will be very sad to know of his passing. Kathy and Kerry, my condolences.
Mary Kay (Scott) Hackman

Valery Nardacci

April 8, 2016

Thank you for your careful guidance and support. Much of what I do and who I am is due to your inspiration when I truly needed it. Rest In Peace Mr. King

Mary Walsh

April 8, 2016

Kathy,so very sorry to hear of the loss of your brother. Your in our thoughts and prayers. Love,
Steve and Mary

Marianne Collinson

April 8, 2016

So sorry King, such a tragic loss. Both you and Tommy in my thoughts and prayers

April 7, 2016

I am so sorry to hear . My thoughts and prayers
Richie Baptista

Kathy

April 7, 2016

Always, RB

Helen McVerry

April 6, 2016

So sorry for your loss. Sympathy to the family and friends.
Patrick and Helen McVerry

Ellie Iasimone

April 6, 2016

My sincere sympathy to Kathy King and all of her family with the loss of her brother Tom
My prayers and thoughts are with you and your family
Ellie Mondillo Iasimone

April 6, 2016

To the King family,
When I heard of Tom's passing the memories came flooding back from the 60's and 70's at East Matunuck State Beach, the unique cast of characters and the incredibly fun times we shared! Tom was central with his wit, generous nature; always a great human being.
The times we spent surfing and life guarding together will be cherished forever and I feel there is definitely a disturbance in the force with Tom's absence.
Bill Greene

Barbara & Craig Pierce

April 6, 2016

Our deepest condolences to all of Tom's family. We loved Tom's smile, gentle good humor, and kind ways. Always a gentleman, he brightened our doorway for years. Our daughter, Celeste, was fortunate enough to enjoy his class at RIC and came away from it with lasting interests. We'll miss both of your parents, lovely people.

April 6, 2016

So sorry Laura. My thoughts are with you and your family. Janet

April 6, 2016

Our sympathies and prayers are with you at this moment
Steve and Adele Farrell

April 6, 2016

Some of the best times of my life were spent working with Tom at East Matunuck. He was one of the most caring and considerate persons I have ever met. My best to the family. Joe Geaber, Wakefield, R.I.

April 5, 2016

Always, RB

Erin Botelho

April 5, 2016

Mr. King was a guiding light for me. His passion for art and lessons he taught me are things I still reflect on today. His steadfast encouragment helped me reach my dream. My prayers and thoughts go out to his family, friends and those lucky enough to have been his students.

Marilyn Caruso (Pittman)

April 5, 2016

My sympathies and prayers go to Mr. Kinsg's family. I was privileged to be in some of Mr. King's first art classes at Scituate High School. He was a great teacher, mentor and the inspiration for me becoming an art teacher. Thank you Mr. King for your artistic contributions to the world. You will be missed.

Joshua Tata

April 5, 2016

I was a student of Mr. King's portfolio art classes at Scituate High School. Mr. King challenged and inspired us, I learned a great deal from his guidance. I have very fond memories of those classes and Mr. King's classic thumbs up. I would like to express my deepest sympathies to his family, friends, colleagues, and students.

April 5, 2016

Let me begin by offering condolences to Tom's family. I had the distinct pleasure of working as a teacher with Tom for many years at Scituate High School.He was an inspirational art educator with an endearing sense of humor.He was also a talented artist in his own right.Many of his students benefited from his artistic vision.He always took the time to connect with students.I will miss him so much.

Brian O'Reilly

April 5, 2016

First of all, I extend my condolences to Tommy's family members. My thoughts and prayers are offered to you during this time of grief and sense of loss. Jimmy Baron called me Monday. Got his phone message too late to return. But, I could tell something bad had happened, so I went looking at the ProJo online and found this sad news. Russ, Joe Mc and now Tommy. Wookie is the nickname Red D. came up with for him back in "64-"65. Glad I got to have lunch with he and Lenny last summer in Wakefield. That time when we were teens seems like yesterday. He was always a good friend. You had to love him. I'll miss him.

Sara Hutchings-Schwartz

April 5, 2016

Tom was a truly inspiring teacher. He made art fun, even for those of us not easily inclined to it. I have vivid memories of him quoting the 80s band Devo to explain whipping colors together to get the blend just right, using his best Terminator voice to make learning how to use the clay extruder more fun, his ever encouraging thumbs up, and taking one of the first computer arts classes at SHS with him. Prayers to his family, he will be remembered fondly by many.

John and Marilyn Schwab

April 4, 2016

Blackberry Hill won't be the same without you, Tom.
We shared a lot of neighborly chats and a June 13th birthday.
We'll always remember the party to celebrate your 65th, and the little bunny that was in your garden that evening. Best regards and sincere sympathy to your family.

Kris Hansen

April 4, 2016

He was a wonderful teacher. I really enjoyed him more than I probably enjoyed making art. This was sad news! My love to his family and friends!

Dennis McAllister

April 4, 2016

To the King family - We're all very sad about learning of Tom's loss - he was a wonderful person! The McAllisters of Matunuck.

Sally Moore

April 4, 2016

So very sad. He was a wonderful and caring teacher.

Ed Tucciarone

April 4, 2016

I wish to impart my sincerest condolences to the family, friends, and former students of Mr. Thomas King. He was and remains one of the most inspiring influences on my life as an artist. I will miss him, but he lives on in my memory, through the last time we spoke twenty-four years ago; his expression of the confidence he had in my artistic and creative abilities carried me through some very dark times. I am proud to be but a small part of his legacy as a teacher and an artist.

Tom and Joan with Big Nazo 2003

April 4, 2016

L. Irene and Bill Sherman

April 4, 2016

To all the King family,
It is with great sadness that we have learned of Tom's passing. We enjoyed knowing Tom and always found him to be a very pleasant person.We extend our deepest sympathy to you all.
Bill and Irene Sherman

Katie Cassidy

April 4, 2016

So sorry for your loss. Mr King was my Portfolio art teacher for 2 years, and the reason I was accepted to two great art schools. He was a driving force-a supportive and peerless teacher.

Jo Broadfield

April 4, 2016

One of the best teachers I ever had...

Lisa West

April 4, 2016

Laura and Michaela, no words can convey my heartbreak to you. Be there for each other and know how much your father loved you both. I have you all in my heart.

Cindy

April 4, 2016

He was a great teacher one of my favorites had him in Jr. High in Scituate my thoughts are with your family

Jose & Adriana Lozada

April 4, 2016

Michaela, Laura and family. I am so sorry for your loss. I am keeping you in my prayers and thoughts.

Doris Duggan

April 4, 2016

So sorry for the loss of such a great and talented man. I worked with Tom for many years at Scituate Middle & High School. He had such a wicked dry sense of humor. You and Tom are in my thoughts and prayers.

April 4, 2016

Tom King was an amazing man, educator and most of all a wonderful mentor and friend. I had the pleasure of working with Tom at Scituate High School for many years. This man taught me so much about teaching and loving art. His students adored him as did many faculty members and friends. His smile, laugh and great hugs will always be cherished. I am deeply saddened to hear of his passing and my heart is heavy. My sincerest condolences to his children and extended family.

Elinor Thompson

April 4, 2016

Tom was king of the Scituate HS Art Department from 1982-2002. As supervisor and art teacher, he built the art program to be recognized as one of the best in RI through his innovative ideas, amongst which was starting the first computer high school art program in New England in the early 1990's. Many of his talented portfolio art students went on to the best art colleges and have become recognized working artists in their own right.
A dedicated caring and respected teacher, he will long be remembered as a positive influence on many students. A talented and creative artist in his own right whose work is in many private collections, he created hanging sculptures and sculptured canvases.
We worked closely together for all those years in the art department. He will be sorely missed.
My condolences to his children and their families and Tom's siblings.

Otilia Nobrega

April 4, 2016

My deepest sympathy goes out to the family. I had the privilege of teaching with Tom in Scituate for several years. May God give you the strength to get through this most difficult loss.

Esteban & Karla Reyes

April 4, 2016

Our deepest condolences

Sheila Fitzgerald Hagenbuch

April 4, 2016

So sorry to read of Tom's passing. I remember the King Family from Prospect St when we were all young kids and Tommy was the baby. I will keep you all in my thoughts and prayers and just remember all the memories you have will last a lifetime.

Showing 1 - 39 of 39 results