Richard C. Champlin

Jamestown, - Richard C. Champlin, 77, of 15 Priscilla Road Jamestown, RI, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, August 14, 2003. Born in Newport, RI on June 8, 1926, he was the son of Lawrence and Ena Eddy Champlin. Mr. Champlin was graduated from Mt. Herman Prep School and from Middlebury College. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1946 where he instructed in thr use of sonar equipment to the Russian Military. His favorite expression about his military experience was, ?the Navy in its infinite widsom sent me to Key West, Florida for the summer and to the Aleution Is. Ak. for the Winter.? Mr. Champlin retired from the Redwood Library in 1991 after forty years of service as a cataloguer, assistant librarian, and librarian. He was a well respected and distinguished naturalist, botanist, geologist, and ornithologist. Mr. Champlin educated himself in a variety of fields, but with an emphasis on the natural sciences. He received the ?Distinguished Naturalist Award from the R.I. Natural History Survey.? He made significant contributions in the advancement of scientific knowledge of R.I.s organisms, geology, and ercosystems, as evidenced by seventy-three published books, scientific papers, and periodicals. He was an unparalleled story teller with a great sense of humor. Many of his stories were based on ?old timers? observations and tales of early R.I.. He befriended many of these ?old codgers? from rural R.I. and spent interesting and enjoyable days with them. Mr. Champlin is best summed up by a quote from Esther Fisher Benson ?He is a private person, reticent, fair-minded, and of firm faith, in sum, not unlike the great trees he cared so deelply for, quiet sturdy, and self-sufficient,? we shall miss him. Mr. Champlin was a life member of First Church of Christ, Scientist of Newport. He is survived by his sister Jeanne C. Haymon of Middletown, RI, three nephews Richard C. Haymon of Middletown, RI, Gordon L. Haymon of Glen Falls, NY, and Roger P. Haymon of Gray, ME, three grand nieces and one great nephew. Memorial Services will be held at a time to be announced.Donations in his memory may be made to the Richard C. Champlin Fund, C/O The Redwood Library, Bellevue Avenue, Newport, RI 02840.Arrangements are by the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport.