Edward D.C. McDowell

Edward McDowell, 64, of The Bridge at Cherry Hill in Johnston, RI, died on Saturday, December 28, at Elmhurst Rehabilitation and Health Center in Providence, RI. Born in New York, New York, Ed was the son of the late Samuel and Rosa (Deutsch) McDowell. He is survived by his sister, Janet McDowell of New York, NY. Ed graduated from Stuyvesant High School, which is a top rated, public high school in New York, New York, that specializes in mathematics and science. He earned a B.A. in mathematics from Columbia University in 1976 and a Ph.D. in mathematics from Yale University in 1981. After having taught at Clark University as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science from 1981 to 1984, he was hired as an Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science at Rhode Island College in the fall of 1984. While teaching at Rhode Island College, he earned an M.S. in computer science from the University of Rhode Island in 1992. In 1993 he was tenured and promoted to the rank of Associate Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science. He retired from Rhode Island College in June of 2017 on health grounds. Ed taught a broad variety of both mathematics and computer science courses. He was a leader in the computer science contingent during his entire career. In particular, he was a prime mover in the Department’s transition, first to the C++ programming language, then to the Java programming language. He unfailingly allowed his colleagues to use the computer programs which he had spent so much time writing up. Ed meticulously prepared every single one of his lectures. Students greatly appreciated his painstakingly supplying all the details and steps in his classes, thus maximizing the likelihood that they would understand all of the concepts and examples. Ed rendered yeoman service to Rhode Island College with his exceptionally good, useful, and valuable work on all manner of committees. He was the chair of the Department’s Course Coordination Committee and the Department’s Committee on Computer Offerings for several years. Moreover, he served on the campus-wide Curriculum Committee, and was its secretary during one of those years. Finally, he was chair of the RIC/AFT Assembly of Departmental Representatives for many years. Throughout his life, Ed loved to play the French horn, the flute, and the recorder. He also enjoyed listening to a very wide range of music played on different instruments. Ed McDowell leaves an enduring legacy of honesty, integrity, hard work, dedication, fastidious attention to detail, loyal service, and mastery of mathematics and computer science, that will be remembered by all who knew him for many years to come. He will be greatly missed by his colleagues and students at Rhode Island College. Per Ed’s own final wish, all services will be private. Arrangements are entrusted to William W. Tripp Funeral Home, Pawtucket, RI. TRIPPFUNERALHOME.com

Edward D.C. McDowell

August 29, 1955 - December 28, 2019