Long-Time Professor of Biochemistry at URI, Joel A. Dain, Dies at 89
Tuesday, August 24, 2021
Dain, Joel A., 89, died Saturday, August 21, 2021, at Brookdale South Bay. For 64 years, Joel was the beloved husband of Eleanor (Horowitz) Dain. Born in 1931 in the Bronx, New York City, he was the oldest son of the late Charles and Beatrice (Pollack) Dain.
Joel was the caring and playful father of Peter J. Dain (Deborah Blicher), of Sudbury, MA; Jonathan L. Dain (Karen Kainer), of Gainesville, FL; and Leonard E. Dain (Ivetia Paniagua), of Seattle, WA. Joel was the dear brother of Martin Dain of Sun City, FL, and was the loving and mischievous grandfather of Rebekah, Beatrice, Kristina, Max, Joshua, and Isabel. He was a resident of Kingston since 1962.
Joel received his doctorate from Cornell University in 1956. He was a Professor of Biochemistry at URI for close to 60 years. After retiring in 2015, he continued working as an Emeritus Professor until his death. Joel was known for his influential research on the biochemical underpinnings of Tay-Sachs, diabetes, and other diseases, and for his caring and dedicated mentoring of numerous graduate students and postdocs with whom he maintained regular contact. From early on he opened his lab to female and male graduate students alike from all over the world and from diverse backgrounds. In addition to his undergraduate and graduate teaching and research duties, he served on committees tasked with hiring University coaches, Athletic Directors, and Presidents.
Joel was an active member of various organizations that demonstrated his eclectic interests:
AAUP (American Association of University Professors)
American Chemical Society (ACS) – In 1995, he was elected chairman of the Rhode Island Section of the ACS.
URI Athletic Council
Democratic Town Committee
American Philatelic Society
As a part of his professional work, Joel and Ellie took their family to live in locations as diverse as Heidelberg, Germany; Santa Rosa, California; and Tokyo, Japan, where he collaborated with scientists at local universities. He gave invited lectures at conferences and universities worldwide.
Joel and Ellie were also generous donors to numerous causes in support of human rights, scientific research, and the environment.
Sports were a very important part of Joel’s life. He was a runner in high school; he played junior varsity basketball at the University of Illinois; and into his 80’s he was a regular at weekly pick-up basketball games at URI’s Keaney Gym. He rarely missed a basketball game by his beloved URI Rams, and for almost 60 years was a fixture at Keaney Gym and then the Ryan Center. Joel was also a lifelong and ardent tennis player – a love he passed on to his sons.
Joel was an avid reader and was particularly fond of suspense and detective novels. He was a regular at the Kingston Library.
Joel had a wry sense of humor which he applied to most any situation he encountered, particularly politics. He greatly enjoyed bantering with friends, family, colleagues, and acquaintances.
Joel was a lifelong stamp collector, reflecting his interest in all things international. For many years, he taught beginning stamp collecting to children through the Neighborhood Guild Community Center in South Kingstown.
Graveside services are open to the public and will be held Tuesday, August 24th at 12:00 noon in New Fernwood Cemetery, 3102 Kingstown Rd., Kingston.
Due to the age and health of those attending, we ask that mourners please wear a mask and practice social distancing.
A private family gathering will be held after the service.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Joel’s memory may be made to Beatrice Dain Memorial Fund in Diabetes. To make a gift, visit urifoundation.org and click the “Make a Gift” button in the upper right corner. Indicate the amount of your gift, then click “select from a list of options”. Scroll down to “URI Programs and Initiatives” and click “Other Funds”, then “Continue”. In the text box type “Beatrice Dain Memorial Fund in Diabetes“. Complete the form with the required information and follow the payment options.
Memorial gifts may also be made by check, payable to the URI Foundation & Alumni Engagement, and writing “Beatrice Dain Memorial Fund in Diabetes” in the memo line. Mail to: URI Foundation & Alumni Engagement, PO Box 1700, Kingston, RI 02881.
Contributions may also be made to Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.
To attend the funeral service via Zoom, please click here.
Meeting ID: 849 3499 3118
Passcode: 548378
