Joel Dain, 89

KINGSTON, R.I. – Joel A. Dain died Aug. 21 at Brookdale South Bay. Joel was the beloved husband of Eleanor (Horowitz) Dain for 64 years. Born in Bronx, New York City, he was the oldest son of the late Charles and Beatrice (Pollack) Dain. A resident of Kingston since 1962, Dr. Dain was Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Rhode Island until his retirement in 2015, after which he continued working as an emeritus professor until his death. Joel was known for his influential research on Tay-Sachs and other diseases and his caring and dedicated mentoring of numerous graduate students and post docs.

He was the caring and playful father of Peter J. Dain and his wife, Deborah Blicher, of Sudbury, Massachusetts, Jonathan L. Dain and his wife, Karen Kainer, of Gainesville, Florida, and Leonard E. Dain and his wife, Ivetia Paniagua, of Seattle, Washington. Joel was the dear brother of Martin Dain of Sun City, Florida, and was the loving and mischievous grandfather of Rebekah, Beatrice, Kristina, Max, Joshua and Isabel.

Contributions in Joel’s memory may be made to the organizations listed on the Shalom Memorial Chapel website (http://www.shalommemorialchapel.com/).