Obituary for Mary "Polly" Eddy
Mary "Polly" Allerton (Schurman) Eddy
90, of Wakefield, RI, died peacefully in the company of family on October 25, 2020. Polly was the beloved wife of the late Edward Danforth Eddy, Jr., former president of the University of Rhode Island. She was a daughter of the late Jacob Gould Schurman, Jr., and Mary (Cushman) Schurman of New York City.
Polly’s dedication to civic leadership in education, health, and the arts inspired all who knew her. She was a committed advocate of the University of Rhode Island, earning an honorary degree in 1998. She led her community of South Kingstown as an elected member of the town council for ten years, including four as Council President. Polly worked passionately for community vitality across many sectors, including serving on the board of Thundermist Health Center.
She is survived by her four children and their spouses Edward Danforth Eddy, III, and Yu-Ping (Wu) Eddy; Mary Isabel Eddy; Catherine Schurman (Eddy) Hahn and Thomas Christian Hahn; and David Henning Eddy-Spicer and Nancy Jean Murphy Spicer. She also leaves a sister Lydia Cushman Schurman. She is loved and admired by seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, Polly’s family requests memorial donations to any of these organizations:
(a) Thundermist Health Center, Woonsocket, RI - https://www.thundermisthealth.org/donate/;
(b) Trinity Repertory Theater Company, Providence, RI -http://www.trinityrep.com/give ;
(c) University of Rhode Island Dr. Edward and Polly Eddy Endowed Scholarship - https://www.urifae.org//.
Please join us for a Virtual Celebration of Life for Mary "Polly" Eddy on Sunday, November 15 at 4pm EST via Zoom. For a link to the celebration, please enter your information here:
https://forms.gle/SLqBCWphugysFgK86
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90, of Wakefield, RI, died peacefully in the company of family on October 25, 2020. Polly was the beloved wife of the late Edward Danforth Eddy, Jr., former president of the University of Rhode Island. She was a daughter of the late Jacob Gould Schurman, Jr., and Mary (Cushman) Schurman of New York City.
Polly’s dedication to civic leadership in education, health, and the arts inspired all who knew her. She was a committed advocate of the University of Rhode Island, earning an honorary degree in 1998. She led her community of South Kingstown as an elected member of the town council for ten years, including four as Council President. Polly worked passionately for community vitality across many sectors, including serving on the board of Thundermist Health Center.
She is survived by her four children and their spouses Edward Danforth Eddy, III, and Yu-Ping (Wu) Eddy; Mary Isabel Eddy; Catherine Schurman (Eddy) Hahn and Thomas Christian Hahn; and David Henning Eddy-Spicer and Nancy Jean Murphy Spicer. She also leaves a sister Lydia Cushman Schurman. She is loved and admired by seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, Polly’s family requests memorial donations to any of these organizations:
(a) Thundermist Health Center, Woonsocket, RI - https://www.thundermisthealth.org/donate/;
(b) Trinity Repertory Theater Company, Providence, RI -http://www.trinityrep.com/give ;
(c) University of Rhode Island Dr. Edward and Polly Eddy Endowed Scholarship - https://www.urifae.org//.
Please join us for a Virtual Celebration of Life for Mary "Polly" Eddy on Sunday, November 15 at 4pm EST via Zoom. For a link to the celebration, please enter your information here:
https://forms.gle/SLqBCWphugysFgK86
To send flowers or plant a tree in memory of Mary "Polly" Eddy, visit the Tribute Store.

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