Margaret Ellen Kane

Known for her wit, her passion for lung health, and her civic activity

Margaret E. Kane, 75, of Barrington, RI, passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 8, 2023 after a long illness following a stroke in June last year.

Born in Hornell, NY, she grew up in upstate New York and Bradenton, Florida. After graduation from Florida State University she moved to Rhode Island and taught briefly in North Attleboro.  Then her long career with the American Lung Association in Rhode Island (through various organizational name changes) culminated as Executive Director.  Proud of her fight for healthy lungs, she helped hundreds of Rhode Islanders quit smoking, and helped get the laws passed for smokefree schools and public places. Also active with the American Lung Association nationally, she was a Past President of the Congress of Lung Association Staff (CLAS). She also was very involved with supporting health education in Rhode Island schools and public health awareness and advocacy.

Her wit and sense of humor livened up her civic activities. She was very active in Providence Rotary and the Providence Rotary Charities Foundation.  Margaret served as President of Operation Clean Government and was an alumna of Leadership Rhode Island.

In Barrington she could often be found eating, greeting friends, and cracking jokes at a variety of local eateries. She was a member of the Republican Town Committee and in 2008 ran for State Representative with her motto “Kane is Able.”  Her door knocking campaign helped her identify issues of concern to town residents and she later served as Chairperson of the Barrington Senior Services Advisory Board.  For several years she was involved with East Bay real estate firms.

She much enjoyed spending time on Sanibel Island, Florida (especially shelling) and in Ogunquit and Wells, Maine with her dear housemate of 47 years, the late Jean MacCorison. (Originally from North Berwick, Maine)

Other things she was particularly proud of included participating in Girl Scouts through Senior Scouting and national Roundup, building houses with her dad, and her athletic career at Florida State. It took many years, but she and her teammates on the 1969 Track and Field team finally got their certificates as members of the first FSU women’s team to be All-Americans.

She was predeceased by her parents James T. “Ted” and Louise Belle (Gow) Kane and her brother James W. “Jimmy” Kane. She is survived by her cousin Christina Caferelli and family on Long Island, NY, her extensive adopted family in the United Kingdom including Jan Long and her beloved goddaughter Annie Webb, and a multitude of friends locally and around the U.S. and the world. Molly Clark of Providence was with her at the end.

Plans for a memorial celebration in Rhode Island and in Maine are still to be determined.  

Donations in Margaret’s memory may be made to Providence Rotary Charities Foundation, PO Box 41184, Providence, RI 02940 or to the charity of your choice.

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