Alice F. Marchant

Alice Franklin Marchant was born on October 1, 1938 to Dr. Joseph and Etta (Kloos) Franklin. She earned her undergraduate degree in Physical Education from Boston University and worked briefly for the Cranston Schools before settling into a long career in the Warwick Public Schools. She later joined the faculty at Rhode Island College. Throughout her career, Alice volunteered as an intramural coach and through Jumprope for Heart, raised thousands of dollars for the American Heart Association. For many years Alice served on the executive board of RIAPHERD, giving back to the PhysEd community and students with educational and enrichment programs. Following her retirement, Alice enjoyed being in the sun, traveling, roaming the neighborhood and got great enjoyment when approached by a former student while out in the community. And- she most often remembered them! Even after a life changing accident in 2001, Alice continued to love sailing and kept at it through Shake-a-Leg and Sail to Prevail.

On December 24, 2024, Alice was predeceased by her husband, Harold Anderson Marchant, born on August 30,1936 to Harold Brown Marchant and Lillian (Anderson) Marchant. He graduated from Aldrich High School, Rhode Island College and continued to study architecture and cabinet making at the Rhode Island School of Design. Harold proudly served his country in the United States Army, taught Industrial Arts in the Providence Schools for ten years and then followed his passion for working with tools and wood. He was an accomplished cabinet maker, putting extreme planning, care and detail into every piece he created.

In 1961, Alice’n’Hal married and moved to Bayridge in the Potowomut section of Warwick, raising their children surrounded by the beauty of Greenwich Bay. Perfect for Alice, whose family summered there when she was a child. She developed a love for swimming and ever the teacher, taught many neighborhood children to swim. She was most proud of frequently swimming back and forth between Bayridge and Oakland Beach as a young woman. They loved enriching their own and other children’s lives through the youth sailing program at the East Greenwich Yacht Club and kept them busy all winter with ski trips to Vermont. The Westminster Unitarian Church in East Greenwich was a haven for them, providing spiritual enrichment and a vibrant social community.

Alice’n’Hal are survived by their daughter June, son Jay (Ann), Harold’s brother Bob Marchant (Ann Carol) of Richmond, VA, several nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.

Please join us on Saturday, November 1, 2025 for a celebration of their lives at the East Greenwich Veteran Firemen’s Association 80 Queen St. East Greenwich, RI 02818 from 5:00-9:00PM. Memorial contributions in their names may be made to: Sail to Prevail, Inc., P.O. Box1264 Newport, RI 02840 or to: Hope Health Attn: Philanthropy 1085 North Main Street Providence, RI 02904.                                                                                         www.hillskeffington.com