Marguerite Turner, PhD
an educator
Marguerite Turner, PhD, 93, retired educator, died peacefully February 27, 2012 at Kent Regency Center. She was the wife of the late Dr. Daniel Turner.
Born in Providence, she was a daughter of the late Walter and Mildred (Taber) Robertson. She graduated summa cum laude from Pembroke College (Brown University) in 1939, where she was an Elisha Benjamin Andrews Scholar, a Pembroke Scholar, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi honor societies. She was granted a Master of Arts in mathematics and education from Brown in 1947 and a Ph.D. in educational measurement from the University of Connecticut in 1961. She also studied at Harvard Graduate School of Education, where she was a Smith Scholar and a member of Pi Lambda Theta and the editorial board of the Harvard Educational Review.
Dr. Turner was Dean of Academic Affairs at Rhode Island Junior College (now CCRI) at its founding in 1964, was appointed Vice President of Academic Affairs in 1970, and retired from that position in 1976. She was recognized for her contributions to education and the college by being inducted to the CCRI Hall of Fame in 1994.
Her career in education also included teaching and counseling in the Warwick school system, at the University of Connecticut and at Rhode Island College. She held a civilian position as a research analyst at the War Department in Washington, D.C from 1942-45.
After retirement, she enjoyed raising orchids in her greenhouse and tending her perennial gardens at her Cranston home. Her yard was a sanctuary for birds, and she opened her home and heart to many a stray pet. She was a long-time member of the Country Garden Club of Oaklawn.
She leaves a brother, Frederic T. Robertson of Providence; a stepdaughter, Patricia (Turner) Mitchell of Painted Post, N.Y.; next-generations of loving family; and many friends.
Friends and family are invited to celebrate her life March 24 at 1 p.m. at Lakewood Baptist Church, 255 Atlantic Ave., Warwick.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to the Audubon Society of Rhode Island, the RI Community Food Bank or Hamilton House of Providence.
