Dr. Thomas L. Payne, Jr

91, of Naples, FL died Saturday, March 26, 2016 at Moorings Park in Naples. Born in Providence, RI on September 30, 1924, he was a son of the late Providence Councilman, Thomas L. and Kathleen (Mullen) Payne. He graduated from Classical High School and served in the U.S. Navy in WWII as a pharmacist mate 1/c from 1943 to 1946. He attended Providence College and graduated Cum Laude from Baltimore College of Dental Surgery at the University of Maryland. He was elected to the honorary Gorgas Odontological Society and interned at both the U.S. Marine Hospital and Cook County Hospital in Chicago, IL. He practiced Dentistry in Providence for 20 years and Cranston for 26 years. He was Past-President of the RI Society of Dentistry for Children and the Providence District Society. He served on the board of Trustees of the RI Dental Society and was a life member of the Cranston, RI American Dental Association. He had been a staff member of both St. Joseph and Fatima Hospital for 46 years. He was a Past-President of the Rhode Island Ski Runners and was race chairman for 16 years of the RI Giant Slalom Ski Race held at Cranmore and Attitash Mountains in NH. In 1975 at the age of 50 he placed first place in the 40 and over category and in 1988 was first in the 65 and over. An enthusiastic runner, he was a major contributor to the Ocean State Marathon and the Warwick 10-K race. He completed the Ocean State Marathon at the ages of 60 and 64. He ran the Blessing of the Fleet race in Narragansett 18 times, the last time at age 72. He was a Past-President of the Pawtucket Toast Masters and had been a Dale Carnegie Instructor. He was a Past-President of the University Society of Providence and a lifetime member of the Dunes Club. He was the founder in 1940 of the Linwood Penguins, one of the first teams in the youth hockey league at the RI Auditorium. He was a "Silent Baritone" in the Assumption Boys Choir from 1932 to 1938 at the insistence of Sister Jean-Marie of the Sisters of the Cross Passion. He is survived by his four children, Prof. Thomas L. Payne III of Portsmouth, NH, John M. Payne and his wife Smitha Gollamudi, M.D. of Bethesda, MD, Lindsey K. Welch and her husband Miles P. Welch of Telluride, CO, and Nancy Elizabeth Payne and her husband Jeffrey Tsai of Brooklyn, NY. He also leaves behind three siblings, Richard S. Payne Esq. of Larchmont, NY, M. Patricia Fleck of South Kingstown, Mavis A. Perkins of Cedar Grove, NJ and the late Joan Payne Cannon. Tom loved his seven grandchildren deeply, and his memory will always be with them. He leaves Devi Kathleen and Thomas Chander Payne; Amelia Penrose Payne; Miles Parker, Ellery Denning and James Payne Welch; and Avery Elizabeth Tsai. He is survived by his wonderful former wife, Dorothy Denning Payne of Naples, FL. He enjoyed quoting his Mother who would often say "Work and be glad you are able to work - give and be glad you are able to give." A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, April 2nd at 10:00 a.m. at St. Thomas More Church, 53 Rockland St., Narragansett. Calling hours will be held on Friday, April 1st from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Nardolillo Funeral Home & Crematory, South County Chapel, 1111 Boston Neck Road (Rt.1A), Narragansett. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Maryknoll Fathers, c/o his cousin Fr. William Mullan, P.O. Box 302 Maryknoll, NY 10545.

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