In Memoriam

Neil Benjamin “Bud, Tubby” Tubman, Retired Sergeant, Smithfield Police Department, 87, of Continental Road, Greenville, passed away of natural causes Wednesday, May 23, 2018. Neil was being visited and comforted by family members at Hebert Nursing Home in Smithfield, RI at the time of his passing. He was the loving husband of Jean M. (Sprague) Tubman for 68 years.

Neil was born in Taunton, Massachusetts on May 8, 1931. He was the eighth child of Benjamin S. Tubman and Susan E. (Abbott) Tubman and was preceded in death by his siblings David, Ruth, George, Esther, Donald, Eleanor, Joyce and Philip.
Besides his wife, he is survived by three of his children: Gail Dunbar and her husband, Steve of Greenville, South Carolina, Susan Williams and her husband, Ronald of Johnston and Ronald Tubman and his wife, Gina of Smithfield. He was also the father of the late Karen Robitaille.

Neil also leaves 14 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. He was extremely proud of his family and one of his favorite things to do at family gatherings would be to look around at everyone and proclaim “without me, none of you would be here!”

Neil spent his younger years in Cranston and Warwick, Rhode Island before being married to Jean Sprague in 1950. After living in Providence for a short while they settled in Greenville where they lived together for the better part of seven decades.

From a young age Neil had an interest in cars which led to him managing, then owning several local service stations. While he enjoyed the automotive business Neil found his calling when he became a “special” on the Smithfield Police Department while it was still located in the basement of the Smithfield Town Hall. After a year or so Neil took a permanent position with the “Force” as he called it. Rising through the ranks, he ultimately earned the rank of Sergeant, or “Sarge” as his fellow officers and friends called him. Retiring from the force due to illness, Neil would look back fondly on his years as an officer and loved to reminisce with friends and family about the old days when he and Artie “The Chopper” Williams”, Bobby LaChapelle, Jimmy McVey, Frenchy LeBeau, Holly Gates, Red Williams, Joe Larkin and the rest of the force patrolled the mean streets of Smithfield. Neil ended his working days employed by South Auburn Oil Company in Cranston. He enjoyed his retirement visiting with friends and family.
Anyone who knew him, whether as Neil, Bud or Tubby will tell you he was larger than life and that he was always the first to offer help or lend a hand when someone was in need. The world is a slightly quieter place with him gone and he will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Visiting hours will be held Sunday, May 27, 2018 from 3pm to 5pm in the Anderson-Winfield Funeral Home, Rt 44 at Greenville Common, Greenville with a short funeral service starting at 5pm. Burial will be private.

Robert T. Boyle, Jr. 60, of Burlingame Road, Smithfield, died Sunday, July 2, 2017. He was the husband of the late Deborah A. (Kerwin) Boyle. They had been married for 37 years before her death this past January.

Born in Pawtucket, he was a son of the late Robert T. Boyle, Sr and Sylvia Boyle-Loparto of Cumberland. He had lived in Smithfield his whole life.

He was a hearing officer for the RI Department of Motor Vehicles for the past three years. He had retired as a Captain from the Smithfield Police Department in 2001, after serving for 22 years. He had worked as a clerk in the the Smithfield Town Clerk’s Office from 2001-2003, and had also worked for the Rhode Island Capitol Police for 10 years. He was a member of the Smithfield Board of Canvassers and the Smithfield Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #17.

He is survived by his son, Robert W. Boyle and his wife, Stephanie of Smithfield, his siblings: Lynda Clarke and her husband, Kevin of Cumberland and Kathleen Maione and her husband, Paul of Warwick, his brothers and sisters in law: William R. Kerwin and his wife, Robin of Smithfield, James J. Kerwin and his wife, Leeanne of Attleboro, Kerri Dubois and her husband, Richard, of Fellesmere, FL, Christopher Kerwin and his wife, Tricia of Smithfield and Tricia Kerwin of Smithfield as well as many nieces and nephews. He was the brother of the late James F. and Thomas F. Boyle and brother in law of the late Michael Kerwin.

Obituary for Holly Peabody
Holly E. (Segee) Peabody, 59, an extraordinarily kind and generous woman, died Nov. 6, 2015 after a short illness.

Although she started her career as a Smithfield police officer, she soon found her calling in social work. She worked for the State for 37 years, the last 17 years as a social worker in the Department of Human Services,

She was always the first to volunteer to help those in need. She founded a clothing closet for women and children and, for years, she coordinated holiday Adopt-a-Family gift-giving efforts with her co-workers and some local businesses. In recognition, she was awarded the Marguerite Beaubien Community Service award in 2005.

A longtime resident of South Kingstown, she was born Jan. 9, 1956, the daughter of the late Kenneth Segee and Mary Carr of Harmony, who survives. She and her late husband, Stephen Peabody, were parents of one child, Marlanea Peabody. She also leaves behind two beloved cats.

Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, friends are encouraged to send donations in Holly’s memory to Lucy’s Hearth, an emergency shelter for women and children, 913 West Main Rd., Middletown, 02842.

Prescott J. Williams, Jr., (SPD, Ret.) 86, passed away Saturday, June 7, 2014. He was the beloved husband of Joan C. (Thurber) Williams. Born in Providence and a lifelong resident of Smithfield, he was a son of the late Senator Prescott J. Williams and of the late Mabel K. (Knight) Williams.

Captain Williams was educated at St. Dunstans, Bryant College and Babson College. Served in the US Maritime Service and the US Army and was stationed on Okinawa.

Captain Williams had been affiliated with many local Civic Organizations, the Greenville Volunteer Fire Department, Balfour-Cole Post #64 American Legion, Charter Member of the Board of Canvassers of the Greenville Water district, past member of the Smithfield Town Committee, past Vice President of the Smithfield Democratic Club, Smithfield Highway Association, first elected Democratic Moderator in Voting District #1, past Secretary of the Smithfield Police Association, Charter Member of the Smithfield Lodge #17, Fraternal Order of Police and the last of the Charter members to retire also held offices of Secretary-Treasurer and Vice President of the Lodge for fifteen years, member of the commissioned Police Offers Association of Rhode Island, member Temple Lodge #18 F. & A.M. and a member of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, a 32nd degree mason.

Appointed a Reserve Police Officer in 1954 and served in an active capacity until May 1957 at which time he was appointed as a regular member of the Smithfield Police Department. After graduating from the Municipal Police Academy in August 1957 served as a Patrolman until March 1967 when he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and assigned to the midnight shift as Patrol Commander. Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in February 1974 and was transferred to the daytime shift as Patrol Commander. In June 1974 was promoted to the rank of Captain and served until his retirement in 1979. He later worked for 20 years as a hearing officer for the State of R.I. in financial responsibility.

Captain Williams had served in many capacities within the Smithfield Police Department, as Motor Vehicle Officer, Report Review Officer, Planning and Research Officer, Department Training Officer, Department Inspector, Director of Personnel and the Department Executive Officer.

In April 1977 while in the capacity of Planning and Research Officer did establish within the Smithfield Police Department a Traffic Division which was equipped with two traffic wagons fully equipped for any type of emergency, obtained additional Radar units for the department, Two-way radios, a Polygraph Machine which required six weeks of schooling for an officer from the department, a Closed Circuit Television System for the Police Station, Federal Funding which enabled the department to hire additional personnel to supplement the department with extra patrols daily many months of the year, of which all the mentioned items were totally Federally funded.

In his career with the Smithfield Police Department he had seen the department grow from a three room police station in the Town Hall to a modern multi-room facility which is located on Pleasant View Avenue. Captain Williams, past members of the department and present members of the department were able to have happily contributed to the excavation of the grounds where the new Smithfield Police Facility is located today. Captain Williams has also seen the department grow from a seven member, 2 car police department to the proud department is it is today.

Besides his wife, he is survived by his son Prescott J. Williams, III and his wife Lynn and his daughter Deborah K. Ciotola and her husband Sam all of Smithfield. He was the loving grandfather of Prescott “PJ” Williams, IV (Patty), Jessica L. Sauvageau (Jody), Sam Ciotola (Maureen) and Julie Ciotola; great-grandfather of Prescott “Jack” Williams, V, Nicholas and Sofia Williams, AJ and Jillian Ciotola. He was the brother of Mary K. Smith and the late Andrew J. and Beatrice Williams.

Joseph F. Parenteau, 74, retired Smithfield Deputy Chief of Police, of Riverview Avenue, died Monday, January 14, 2013 at his home. He was the beloved husband of Donna (Cicerone) Parenteau.

He is also survived by: his children, Michael, David and Joseph Parenteau, Cathy Guerin, Lisa Duhaime, Cindy Carchia, Joely DeCristofaro, Nicole Bilyj; his 17 grandchildren, a great granddaughter; his siblings, Albert Parenteau of Maine, George Parenteau of Smithfield and Theresa Adams of Smithfield. He was the son of the late Octave and Ruth (Tucker) Parenteau and brother of the late Octave, Lawrence and Regina Parenteau.

Mr. Parenteau had worked at the former Roger William Grocery Company for sixteen years until 1969 when he joined the Smithfield Police Department. He served for the next 22 years, rising to the rank of Deputy Chief of Police. He was presently an Investigator for the Disciplinary Counsel for the RI Supreme Court. In December, 1989, Governor Edward DePrete appointed Mr. Parenteau to the position of Deputy Sheriff in all five counties, a position he currently holds.

Funeral Thursday at 8:30am from the Anderson-Winfield Funeral Home, Rt 44 at Greenville Common, Greenville. Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30am in St. Philip Church, 622 Putnam Avenue, Greenville. Burial in Highland Park. Visitation Wednesday 4-7pm. In lieu of flowers, donations to a charity of your choice.