George A. Ficorilli, Ph.D.

Professor Emeritus, 81, of Plainfield Pike, Johnston, passed away on Saturday, May 28, 2016 at home surrounded by his loving family, after a courageous six year battle with cancer.  Born in Providence, he was the son of the late Loreto and Carmela (Tirimacco) Ficorilli.

George graduated Mt. Pleasant High School with honors in 1952.  After spending a few years working at various jobs, he enlisted in the U.S. Army with qualification of being able to go to a medical laboratory directly after basic training.  Upon completion of basic training at Fort Dix, he was then sent to Fort Sam Houston to complete laboratory training. He was then sent to Landstuhl, Germany to work in a parasitology laboratory.  His Army career began in the 4th Army Laboratory.  During this period he learned laboratory diagnosis and examination.  He became an expert in laboratory knowledge.  In later years he was sent to various army hospitals in trains and cars as an instructor in identification of parasites. He worked at RI Hospital for 30 years.  In 1963 he received a Degree of highest honors from URI in zoology.  He then received a teaching assistantship in microbiology and continued working at RI Hospital while enrolling in a master’s program at URI.  He completed a Masters of Biological Sciences in 1967.  Foxboro offered him a full time job teaching high school.  Before completing one year of teaching in Foxboro, he was offered a two year fellowship at Roger Williams Junior College, which would lead to another two year fellowship getting full time pay while teaching part time.  This would enable him to go for the Ph.D. in parasitology, while supporting a family of six at this time.  He received his Ph.D. in 1975 and taught at Roger Williams from 1966 to 2001.  He continued to teach as an adjunct professor until 2012 when he could no longer teach due to illness diagnosed in 2010.  He was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega Society, URI, and the Alpha Chi Honor Society, RWU; the Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society; Society of the Sigma Xi National Scientific Society and many others.

He was a man of integrity, humor, strength and grace.  He will be greatly missed by all.

George was the devoted father of Larry F. Ficorilli of Attleboro, MA, Heidi A. Schirm and her husband Steven of Simsbury, CT, Karen M. Ficorilli of McLean VA, Amy L. Ficorilli and her partner Miguel A. Cuenca of Medway, MA and the late Steven F. Ficorilli; loving grandfather of Eric Schirm; and dear brother of Ida Marcil and Virginia Simeone, both of Cranston and the late John and Frank Ficorilli.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a celebration of his life where everyone may share or tell their favorite story in his honor on Saturday, June 18th at 2 p.m. in the NARDOLILLO FUNERAL HOME & Crematory, 1278 Park Ave., Cranston.  Inurnment will take place at a later date.

Kindly omit flowers.