R.I.P. Alan Shawn Feinstein

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via: WPRI

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Alan Shawn Feinstein, an educational philanthropist known for encouraging and rewarding good deeds, has died. He was 93 years old.

"It is with a heavy heart that I inform you of my father’s passing this weekend," Leila Feinstein
CEO of The Feinstein Foundation and Feinstein’s daughter told 12 News in a statement. "He was surrounded by family and loved ones. We will miss him dearly but are heartened by the fact that he led a long and meaningful life."

"Knowing that Feinstein Jr. Scholars were doing good deeds every day brought my dad tremendous joy and comfort," she continued. "It gave him peace in his final moments knowing our work will continue even though he is no longer with us."

An obituary posted by Sugarman Sinai Memorial Chapel announced that Feinstein passed away on Saturday.

Feinstein’s philanthropic efforts were aimed at inspiring young people to help others in need.

The Feinstein Foundation, which he started in 1991, promotes the ideas of doing good deeds and being kind to others. Participants were known as "Feinstein Junior Scholars," a title familiar to generations of Rhode Islanders.

Many schools around Southern New England have been designated as "Feinstein Leadership Schools." He’s also the namesake of the Feinstein School of Education and Human Development at Rhode Island College.
Feinstein received honorary doctorate degrees from several local colleges, including the University of Rhode Island, Providence College and New England Institute of Technology.

Feinstein was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts, and graduated from Boston University and Boston Teachers’ College. He later become a teacher at schools in Newton and Mansfield, as well as Bristol, R.I.

He was married to his wife, Pratarnporn "Pat" (Chiemwichit) Feinstein, for more than six decades, and had three children and five grandchildren.

Alan Shawn Feinstein was more than a man. Like Del's Lemonade and Autocrat Coffee Syrup, he was a Rhode Island institution. If you attended public school in the Ocean State, you've likely crossed his path in your middle school auditorium as a Feinstein Juniahh Scholah (Junior Scholar for non-Rhode Islanders). He encouraged generations of Rhode Islanders to do good deeds. Countless benefitted from his philanthropic investments and dedication to education. 

When I initially saw the news on IG that he passed on the 7th, I was like, how did I miss this? I thought it was just Insta's typical trash algi. I even busted my friends' balls for not being on their A-game in breaking celebrity deaths, but it appears the news was made public today by his daughter and CEO of the Feinstein Foundation,  Leila.

In a world where evil is everywhere, and public education is under attack by extremists, we need more people like Alan Shawn Feinstein. The man's heart was in the right place. He wanted a better world for ALL and believed there was no such thing as "too small" of a good deed. Did he want his name on anything he was involved with? You bet your ass he did, but there are far worse offenses than wanting credit for feeding the hungry and funding public education. There's nothing wrong with wanting a little credit. That's what being a hashtag good guy is all about, and Alan Shawn Feinstein was an OG hashtag good guy. He made the most of his 93 years. I'm sure his family (seen and introduced in an iconic Rhody commercial) is grieving, but I hope they can find peace in knowing how much positivity their dad/grandpa/uncle/etc., Mr. Alan Shawn Feinstein was responsible for. Thank YOU, sir, for all YOUR good deeds. See ya later, Alligator.​