Providence, R.I. -- Robert L. Deasy '53, a retired associate professor of history who taught at Providence College for more than 50 years, died on December 11 at his home in Rumford, R.I., after a long illness. He was 77 years old.
Mr. Deasy graduated summa cum laude from PC in 1953, holding the distinction of being the first student to graduate with a perfect 4.0 grade point average. He later earned his master's degree from Fordham University.
After graduating from PC, Mr. Deasy served in the U.S. Army and signed his first teaching contract with the College on a footlocker at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland. Known for his keen sense of humor and lively teaching style, he joined the PC faculty as an instructor in 1956. He was promoted to assistant professor in 1959 and to associate professor in 1963.
He retired from teaching in May 2008 as the longest-serving faculty member at the College. Throughout his 52-year career at the College, Mr. Deasy taught more than 20,000 students in more than 560 classes.
He served as director of the Humanities Program from 1965-1987 and was history department chair from 1992-94. Outside of the traditional day school, he taught in the School of Continuing Education for 48 years and in the Graduate Studies Program for 41 years.
Mr. Deasy was a member of the first Providence College Faculty Senate, received the Alumni Association Award for Outstanding Faculty Service in 1983, and was inducted into the Phi Alpha Theta Honor Society in 1991.
Mr. Deasy was an expert in presidential elections and served as a contributing editor for NBC News for its coverage of President Bill Clinton's inauguration in 1993.
For his accomplishments in and out of the classroom, and for the honor he brought to the College, Mr. Deasy was presented the Distinguished Faculty Service Award at Academic Convocation in 2006.
A lifelong resident of Rumford, Mr. Deasy was a son of the late John P. and Helen (McCoart) Deasy. He was the husband of Dolores J. (Peckham) Deasy and the late Louise Ann (Gibbs) Deasy.
Besides his wife, he is survived by a son, Robert T. Deasy '82 of East Providence, R.I., director of catering for Sodexho at PC; a daughter, Leeann Dias '81 and her husband, Gregory, '79, of Rumford; two stepdaughters, Katy Krupa and her husband, Jeff, of Charlotte, N.C., and Maribeth Knox of Riverside, R.I.; five grandchildren, Courtney, Robert, and Ali Hayes, and Michael and Sean Krupa; a brother, John Deasy and his wife, Ann, of Bridgewater, Mass.; a sister-in-law, Rosalind Deasy of Riverside, R.I.; nine nephews; and one niece. He was the brother of the late Richard M. Deasy '51, longtime associate professor of history at PC.
His funeral will be held on Tuesday, December 16, from the W. Raymond Watson Funeral Home, 350 Willett Ave., Riverside, R.I., at 8:30 a.m. A Concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial will be held in St. Margaret Church, 1098 Pawtucket Ave., Rumford, at 10:00 a.m. Burial with military honors will follow in Mount St. Mary's Cemetery in Pawtucket, R.I.
Calling hours are Monday, December 15, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Flowers are respectfully omitted. Contributions in Mr. Deasy's memory to the Providence College National Alumni Association Scholarship Fund, 1 Cunningham Square, Providence, RI, 02918 or St. Margaret's School Endowment Fund, 42 Bishop Ave., Rumford, R.I., 02916 would be appreciated.
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