RICE Gattis, long-time Rhode Island School of Design model, died unexpectedly last week. His age remains a secret.

Rice was a part of the RISD community for 49 years. He grew up in New York City among theatrical people, and those beginnings informed his lifelong love of theatre and film. Rice served in the Air Force in Alaska in the 1950s before coming to RISD in 1959. He graduated from RISD in 1963 as an Apparel Design major. Rice was a clothes designer, a dancer, and an excellent ice skater and ice skating teacher. His gift at holding a pose and his careful and astute comments about students' drawings made Rice a joy to work with as a model and a colleague. He volunteered to assist the RISD Museum in their Free-for-All Program at the Flynn School in South Providence, helping students design and create hats.

Rice was quick with a pun, always had time for a conversation, cared for the plants all across campus, and loved the New York Times crossword. The RISD campus will feel emptier without his presence.

A memorial service will be planned for Rice Gattis in the fall, after classes resume at Rhode Island School of Design, so that the entire community can honor this talented man.