Dr. Edwin F. Lovering

Dr. Edwin Lovering; ex-chief of medicine at Pawtucket 01:00 AM EDT on Friday, September 17, 2004

EAST PROVIDENCE -- Dr. Edwin F. Lovering, 88, of Berwick Place, Rumford, former chief of medicine at the former Pawtucket Memorial Hospital, professor emeritus at the Brown University Medical School, and former president of the Rhode Island Heart Association, died Wednesday at Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island, Pawtucket.

In 1945, he entered the practice of internal medicine and cardiology, and became chief of medicine at Pawtucket Memorial before retiring in 1994. He was also a corporator of the Memorial Hospital Corporation.

He established an annual lectureship in oncology in 2002 at the renamed Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island, Pawtucket, in memory of his longtime companion, Lillian Koutras.

Dr. Lovering was involved in the early development of the medical school at Brown, where he was an associate professor emeritus, and had also endowed a scholarship for needy students.

He served as president of the Rhode Island Heart Association and was a Fellow of the American College of Physicians.

He graduated from Brown University in 1938, and graduated with honors from Tufts University Medical School in 1942.

He then entered the Navy and served as chief medical officer aboard the destroyer Shubrick in the Atlantic and Pacific during World War II. He was part of the Allied invasion of Normandy at Utah Beach in 1944, and the invasion of southern France and Italy.

In the Pacific, his ship was hit by a kamikaze pilot, causing considerable casualties, and he received a letter of commendation from the fleet admiral for valor in caring for the wounded. He attained the rank of lieutenant senior grade.

He was the husband of the late Virginia (Parr) Lovering. Born in Pawtucket, a son of the late Chauncey E. and Isabella (Ramsbottom) Lovering, he had lived in Rumford for 54 years.

Dr. Lovering was a member of the Hope and Faculty clubs, both in Providence, the Squantum Club and Adelphoi Lodge, F&AM, both in East Providence, and the Fort Nightly Dining Club.

An sailing enthusiast, he had been a member of the Bristol Yacht Club for 40 years.

He leaves a daughter, Judith L. Kramer of Buffalo, N.Y.; a son, Peter P. Lovering of Mattapoisett, Mass.; and two grandsons, Joshua Roland of Washington, D.C., and Matthew Roland of Annapolis, Md.

A service of remembrance and thanksgiving will be held tomorrow at 1 p.m. in Pawtucket Congregational Church, 40 Walcott St., Pawtucket. Burial will be private.