Donald Booth

Donald Booth, a resident of Newport, died at the age of 81 on Sept. 13, 2009 at the Newport Hospital. He is survived by his wife Tiiu Riis of 57 years of Newport, daughter Tiina Booth of Amherst, MA, son Mark Booth and daughter-in-law Austin Booth of Snyder, NY. He was preceded in death by his son Eric, who died in 1966. He is the grandfather of Emmett Booth of Oberlin, OH and Dylan Booth of Snyder. He is also survived by brothers John Booth of West Palm Beach, FL and Alexander Booth of Webster, NY. His sister Elsie and brother Frank predeceased him. Donald also leaves many nieces, nephews and cousins.Donald Booth was born in Newport on January 4, 1928, the son of Isabella Ritchie Booth and John Booth. He attended Carey School and graduated from Rogers High School in 1946. He served in the U.S. Army in Korea for 2 years and then attended Brown University. He received a degree in hotel management from Cornell University in 1953. After graduating, he continued to work at Cornells Statler Hall and also managed a resort at Blue Mountain Lake in the Adirondacks. In 1958, he took a position with Yale University as a director of food service. In 1959, Donald returned to Newport when he was hired by the Navy to run its officers clubs. Eventually he managed the enlisted mens club and the CPO club as well. He was very active in the advancement of the military club system on a national level and in 1979 was inducted into the Military Club Hall of Fame.After retiring from the Navy in 1984, Donald, along with his nephew Jack, started an on-site catering operation at Kempenaars Clambake Club. They ran this business together for over 15 years. On July 26, 1992, the New York Times featured KCC in an article entitled, It Was a Real Nice Clambake. Community activism and church activities were very important to Donald and, after the death of his brother Frank, he founded Island Hospice, where he served for several years as their first president. At Emmanuel Church, he was on the vestry for many years and was always active in church affairs. Under his leadership, church members raised money to enable the Church Community Housing Corporation to buy and renovate a home for a low-income family. Donald also worked on many outreach efforts, including mission trips to Appalachia, New Mexico, and New Orleans.Donalds dedication to his beloved hometown was evidenced by his 35+ year struggle to keep casino gambling out Newport. In the early 70s, he founded Concerned Citizens Against Casino Gambling and spoke numerous times at the State House in Providence, as well as the U.S. Congress. His letters to the editor to both the Providence Journal and Newport Daily News kept this issue in the limelight for years.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Emmanuel Church Higher Education Fund, 42 Dearborn St., Newport, RI 02840.Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 17 at Emmanuel Church at 42 Dearborn St. Burial will follow at St. Marys cemetery.