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In memory of

Richard Enders Hopkins

Tucson, AZ

December 11, 1938 - December 4, 2025

Dec 11, 1938 - Dec 4, 2025

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Richard Joseph Enders Francis Hopkins, better known as Dick, was born on December 11, 1938 to Edgar and Ruth Hopkins of Foster, RI. The youngest of 7, he attended the one room schoolhouse in Hopkins Mills through grade 8. He graduated from LaSalle Academy where he was a state champion wrestler, and then completed a BA in history at Providence College, and an MA in education at Rhode Island College. He then began a 10 year teaching career at Johnston High School.

Dick was married for 42 years to Alberta Meredith Beaumont Hopkins, better known as Bert. They built a home and settled in Foster, RI and had three children Heidi, Benjamin and Ruth.

In 1970, Dick and Bert took their family to Botswana to build a school and start a clinic in Tutume; this school is now a community college and the clinic still runs to this day. After a brief return to the US for the birth of Ruth, they returned to Gabane, Botswana where Dick worked as a member of Pelegano Village Industries, an organization that focused on self-reliance, self-sustenance and community empowerment through native crafts and local projects.

The Hopkins family returned to the US in 1978 from which point Dick worked for himself as a painter, woodcarver, home builder, historic home repairer, and furniture maker. In the 2000s, Dick and Bert moved to the desert outside Tucson, AZ. Here he continued his artwork and furniture making and also worked as head custodian at Greenfields School.

Dick passed away on December 4, 2025 just short of his 87th birthday. He is survived by Alberta, Heidi, Ben, and Ruth, grandchildren Mark, Sean, Keanu, Michael, Kathleen, and Rachel, great grandchildren Keanu and soon to arrive baby Everest, as well as many other family members, friends and colleagues the world over. He was a rare individual–intelligent, funny, open-minded, curious, courageous, and exceedingly kind and generous. A celebration of his life will be held in 2026. Please send your photos and/or stories about Dick to gingellruth90@gmail.com to be compiled into a tribute book.