February In Memoriam: Cain, Camarra & Others Remembered

Though it was the shortest month of the year, this February saw two huge losses in the North Kingstown community.

Francis “Frank” Cain, 73, a former coach, teacher and North Kingstown Town Council member passed away on Feb. 17. Only four days later, Dr. Mirella “Muriel” Camarra, 84, a local champion of education and the common man, died at her home on Feb. 21.

Though he was known as “Frank” or “Mr. Cain,” Francis Cain was more popularly known at North Kingstown High School as “Coach Cain.” The longtime social studies teacher taught in the North Kingstown school system for 28 years, ending his tenure at Davisville Middle School. According to one student, Cain’s classes were the ones you never wanted to miss.

“You wanted to do his homework,” said Sanford Tully, chairman of the North Kingstown Town Democratic Committee. “He knew how to keep everything at a peak so he could get the best out of it. You didn’t forget the things you learned in his class.”

Cain taught Tully at Wickford Middle School before moving on to Davisville Middle School in the 1960s when the school opened. According to Tully, Cain was one of the biggest reasons he went into politics.

Cain’s influence wasn’t just inside the classroom, but on the tennis courts. During his time as a teacher, he also served as the high school’s tennis coach beginning in 1960 and capping of his last season as “the players’ coach” only 13 years ago in 1998. Today, the school’s tennis courts are named in his honor.

But, Cain was much more than a name on a tennis court plaque. According to Frank Knight, a close friend and former comrade on the Town Council, Cain had a colossal impact on Quonset Point. The first Democrat to be elected to the Town Council, Cain started off his 12-year tenure with one of the biggest issues to hit North Kingstown: the closing of Quonset in 1974.

“It was devastating,” said Knight. “It was a sharp blow, like a lightning flash. Quonset was the best facility for aircraft building and testing and a refurbishing center for the U.S. Navy. We never thought it would go.”

According to Knight, the two worked tirelessly to coordinate the sale and development of Quonset, including the demolition of old Navy buildings to create land that would attract businesses. Cain was also instrumental in preserving the golf course and the old naval housing, now used as housing for thousands of North Kingstown residents. Nearly 40 years later, the former naval and air base hosts 168 businesses and 8,800 jobs.

“It was a very complicated turnover for us,” said Knight. “Very scary, too.”

The odd couple of Frank Knight and Frank Cain, however, stayed strong throughout the years. Despite their conflicting political ideologies (Cain a Democrat and Knight a Republican), Knight notes that many still confused the two.

“I’d get called Frank Cain and he’d get called Frank Knight,” he said. “We were thinking and acting and going pretty much the same thing. If they talked to one of us, they talked to both of us.”

After their years on the Town Council together, the two remained friends.

“We were very close and we had done so much together,” said Knight. “We always thought a great deal of each other and had a great respect for each other. It was a perfect relationship and one I’m proud of.”

Cain was the beloved husband of Janice L. (Talbot) Cain.  They had been married for 42 years. Born in Providence, he was a son of the late Edward and Esther (Burbine) Cain. He was the loving father of Jennifer A. Cloutier and her husband David A. of Cranston; cherished grandfather of Kaitlyn, Grace, and Nicolas; caring brother of Gloria Lombardi of Riverside and the late Edward and Robert Cain and Dorothy Cain.

Camarra moved with her husband to North Kingstown 12 years ago and jumped head first into community politics, helping to revitalize the North Kingstown Taxpayers Organization and, as an educated woman, establishing locally herself as an advocate of education.

According to friends and colleagues, hardships throughout her life prepared her for a life full of passion. She worked tirelessly in town to promote cost effective education and stimulated her peers to get involved.

“I think because she grew up in a lot difficult times in war-torn Italy, where she had people close to her die in war, and in life she lost a child herself, I think because of this she had a perspective on community and government issues that was deeper,” said Lynda Avanzato, a friend and member of the North Kingstown School Committee. “She could be compassionate toward people she disagreed with because she had that humanity.”

Born in New York City on Dec. 5, 1926, Camarra met adversity at just two years old. Her father's death forced her and her sister into an orphanage for several years until her mother returned to collect them and they moved to Italy.

This type of tragedy was mirrored throughout her life. She lost her oldest son, survived breast cancer and in the end fell victim to illness. Throughout hardship she found love in her husband, Navy Lt. Louis Camarra, and her seven children. She found excitement and passion in her career and education, her family reports.

Once married and living in the states, Camarra earned her bachelor’s degree in history, two master’s degrees — one in psychology and the other in Latin American history — and a doctorate in philosophy. She spoke five languages and traveled and lived all around the world

“She was smart as a whip,” remembered Harry Staley, chairman of the Rhode Island Statewide Coalition. Staley first met Camarra almost 10 years ago after she moved to NK and emerged as a community watchdog.

“She was light years ahead of any group and always so entertaining,” he said. “The messages she delivered were tough, but everyone really enjoyed the way she reached out to people. You could really connect with her.”

Staley remembers her brilliance and wit fondly. Her passion and education made her a “force to be reckoned with,” he said.

“I remember once she was testifying in a finance committee discussion at the State House, back when Steve Costantino was head of the Finance Committee,” he said. “I don’t remember the particulars or even what we were talking about, but in the course of the discussion she mentioned Dante. After it was all over we walked into the hallway and Steve [Costantino] came out, captivated by her and the quote. They started talking about Dante and she took off on Dante like a college professor of romance language, she stunned everybody. This was just typical of her.

“She was so extraordinarily educated, it was a kind of intimidation. She had a wonderful way of differing with you but did so with good logic and good humor. You got the impression that she was saying, ‘You can disagree with me if you want, but life would be a lot more pleasant if you didn’t.’”

As president of the NKTO for many years, Camarra worked hand-in-hand with RISC, a state government watchdog group. The annual meeting on Feb. 26 was dedicated to her memory.

“She never slacked off. I always admired that in her,” said Lawrence Fitzmorris Jr., director of RISC. As head of the affiliates committee, of which the NKTO was a part, Fitzmorris worked closely with Camarra and witnessed her passion and expertise firsthand.

Her effectiveness in government finance and expenditures stemmed from her career as vice chair of administration and finance for 15 Massachusetts community colleges. During her tenure, debt and mismanagement ravaged the school system and Camarra poured over financial records cutting all the fat and revitalizing a failing system. Her work earned her the title of Woman of the Year in Massachusetts in 1979.

This expertise translated well to the local and state level after she moved to NK.

“It was very valuable — the interchange on information and expertise,” said Fitzmorris. “Her expertise and experience were able to spread through the state at that time and we were able to learn a great deal from Muriel.”

Even after she learned of her sickness — a hole in her heat — several years ago, Camarra barely slowed down. Up until recent months you could still find her at local meetings, stirring things up.

“She never gave up, until she was forced to,” said Fitzmorris.

Muriel Camarra is survived by four daughters, JoAnn Ball of Camden, Maine; Cecelia List of Suffern, NY; Daniela Camarra of Davis, Calif.; Marianne Bump of Sterling, Mass.; and a son, Richard Camarra of West Falmouth, Mass, and many grandchildren. She was the mother of the late Peter Camarra and Pamela Camarra. She is also survived by a sister, Eva Doran of Narragansett.

• Charles A. Loignon, 85, of Grant Drive, passed away on Friday, Feb. 25.
• Lori J. (Standeven) Myers, 52, of Cole Drive, passed away on Saturday, Feb. 19.
• Helen C. (Waclawek) Binek, 84, died Feb. 12 at Roberts Health Centre, North Kingstown.
• Mary E. (Lemmis) Crompton, 83, of North Smithfield, formerly of North Kingstown, died Feb. 12 at Miriam Hospital in Providence.