Aaron J. Alton, Scholar and URI Professor, Dies at 93

Aaron J. Alton, 93, formerly of Wakefield, died on Tuesday, June 25, 2013. 

He was the beloved husband of Anne (Morton) Alton for 70 years. Born in Worcester, MA, he was the son of the late Johan and Julia M. (Toppari) Alapoti who had immigrated from Finland. He grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Alton received his BA degree from Miami University of Ohio, his MBA from Harvard Business School and his Ph.D. from the Ohio State University. He interrupted his studies at Harvard and served in the Pacific with the U.S. Navy as a Lieutenant aboard the destroyer USS Owen during World War II. He began his teaching career at Miami University of Ohio and then came to the University of Rhode Island where he was Professor and Chair of the Marketing Dept. He received two Fulbright Lecture Grants to Helsinki, Finland and Munich, Germany. He was a classically trained soloist and opera singer. He was a nationally ranked collegiate long distance runner who had raced World Champion Taisto Maki in an exhibition. 

He was a longtime member of the Peace Dale Congregational Church where he was a member of the choir, a deacon and served as church moderator.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Life in the Peace Dale Congregational Church, 261 Columbia St., Peace Dale, on Saturday, June 29, 2013, at 10 a.m. Burial will be private. Visiting hours are respectfully omitted. In lieu of flowers contributions to Home and Hospice Care of R.I., 1085 North Main St., Providence, RI 02904 or Alzheimer’s Association of R.I., 245 Waterman St., Providence, RI 02906.