Rhode Island
Ex-Chargers GM and RI native A.J. Smith dies at 75; played for Bishop Hendricken in ’60s
A.J. Smith, a Rhode Island native and former general manager of the then-San Diego Chargers, died Sunday. He was 75.
Atlanta Falcons assistant general manager Kyle Smith, the son of A.J., and his family announced the passing on Sunday. The elder Smith died after a seven-year battle with prostate cancer.
Smith was a North Smithfield native who starred for Bishop Hendricken in the mid-1960s and dreamed of playing at the next level, but an injury during his senior year changed those plans. He worked as a part-time scout and film grader for the Patriots while teaching physical education at a Providence middle school.
Smith worked as a scout with the New York Giants in 1977, advancing in his career until his eventual promotion to general manager with the Chargers in 2003. He held that position for 10 seasons.
During that period, the Chargers won five division titles and finished with a .500 or better record for eight straight seasons. Smith was the winningest GM in Chargers history, as San Diego totaled 98 wins (including postseason) over his 10 seasons in charge.
“Belying a tough, matter-of-fact and no-nonsense persona — one synonymous with that of a true football guy — was A.J.’s softer side, which included a tremendous love for his family, the NFL and the Chargers,” Chargers owner Dean Spanos said in a statement on Sunday. “The architect of one of the greatest chapters in franchise history, A.J. made everyone around him better with a singular focus and intensity that elevated our organization.”
Smith had some high-profile moments during his tenure in San Diego.
Smith selected Eli Manning with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft despite father Archie Manning having requested that the team not pick his son. Smith then traded Manning to the New York Giants for quarterback Philip Rivers (the fourth pick) and also obtained draft picks used to select linebacker Shawne Merriman and kicker Nate Kaeding.
The trade worked out for both teams with Rivers setting Chargers franchise marks of 59,271 passing yards and 397 touchdowns. Manning won two Super Bowls with the Giants.
After Rivers’ second season, Smith allowed Drew Brees to leave as a free agent and turned the club over to Rivers. Brees had injured his shoulder in the 2005 season finale and underwent major surgery before recovering to become a star with the New Orleans Saints.
The Chargers went 14-2 in 2006 but were upended at home, 24-21, in the postseason by the New England Patriots after holding an eight-point, fourth-quarter lead. That led to the firing of coach Marty Schottenheimer, to whom Smith had refused to talk during the campaign because of their frosty relationship.
The coaching search was held in February, leading to Norv Turner becoming the new head man. San Diego reached the 2007 AFC Championship Game before losing to the Patriots in Foxboro. The Chargers have not advanced that far since.
Smith famously signed tight end Antonio Gates as an undrafted free agent in 2003. Gates, a college basketball player, holds the team’s all-time records for receptions (955), receiving yards (11,841) and touchdown receptions (116).
Smith and Turner were fired after a 7-9 season in 2012.
After his tenure with San Diego, Smith spent three seasons as a consultant with Washington before announcing his retirement in 2015.
In 2013, he returned to Rhode Island to speak at his former high school. “You can’t be a bigger dreamer than I am,” Smith told the Hendricken seniors. “You’re going to have your ups and downs. Life isn’t always going to be rosy. But don’t sit in a corner and sulk. Don’t feel sorry for yourself.”
Smith is survived by his wife, Susan; son, Kyle; daughter, Andrea; son-in-law, Noah; and three grandchildren.
Rhode Island
Steps from the Sand — A Classic Weekapaug Cottage Offered for $3,300,000 – Newport Buzz
43 Noyes Neck Road | Westerly, RI 4 Bedrooms, 3 Full Bathrooms, 1 Half Bathroom | 2,431 Sq. Ft. | 0.35 Acres | Walk to Beaches | Community Tennis & Pickleball | Offered by Robin Knisley of Mott & Chace Sotheby’s International Realty for $3,300,000.
Nestled in one of Rhode Island’s most cherished seaside enclaves, 43 Noyes Neck Road in Westerly offers the rare chance to call Weekapaug home — a place defined by sandy paths, ocean breezes, and a lifestyle centered around community and coastal serenity. This sun-filled cottage, set on a beautifully maintained 0.35-acre lot with exceptional privacy, blends classic charm with thoughtful updates, creating an inviting retreat just moments from the shoreline.
Spanning 2,431 square feet across three levels, the home features four bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths, along with a flexible bonus space ideal for a home office, gym, sunroom, or private guest quarters. The interior is bright and welcoming, with an easy flow designed for relaxed living. A freshly updated kitchen with new appliances adds modern convenience, while the back porch — overlooking a peaceful, expansive yard — offers the perfect setting for morning coffee, evening cocktails, or effortless summer entertaining.
Recent improvements, including a brand-new roof, new AC pump, and upgraded systems, enhance comfort throughout the seasons. Central air conditioning and electric heat provide ease for both summer enjoyment and off-season stays.
Living in Weekapaug is a lifestyle unto itself: walk to two beloved beaches, enjoy community tennis, pickleball, and croquet, and explore the opportunity to join the Weekapaug Yacht Club — a hub for sailing, boating, and seasonal events that define this storied coastal village.
With its blend of privacy, charm, and proximity to the water, 43 Noyes Neck Road is more than a home — it’s an invitation to experience Weekapaug at its most timeless.
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Rhode Island
URI’s use of artificial intelligence in research, teaching, and innovation on display at ‘Discovering AI @ URI Day’
KINGSTON, R.I. – Dec. 8, 2025 – Artificial intelligence (AI) is here to stay and students, faculty, and staff at the University of Rhode Island have been using the evolving technology for research, teaching, and innovation purposes.
The effective and creative ways AI has been applied across the University will be discussed and displayed at “Discovering AI @ URI Day,” on Dec. 10 from 4-7:30 p.m., in rooms 040 and 045 of URI’s Fascitelli Center for Advanced Engineering, 45 Upper College Road, on the Kingston Campus.
The free event will feature guest speakers, panel discussions, and poster presentations. Refreshments will be provided. The URI community is welcome to share their AI success stories. Those interested in attending the event are encouraged to RSVP.
“As Rhode Island’s flagship R1 research university, URI has the responsibility to lead in the development and thoughtful application of AI across higher education,” said URI Assistant Vice President for Research Computing Gaurav Khanna. “By leveraging advances in AI, URI will expand discovery, prepare students for an AI-shaped workforce, and drive innovations that benefit Rhode Island and beyond.”
Khanna is also the director of URI’s Institute for AI and Computational Research. The institute supports and promotes high-level interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary computational research, including AI-related research.
Guest speakers at Discovering AI @ URI Day will include:
- Victoria Gu, chair of the Rhode Island Senate Committee on Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technology and representative of District 38 in the Rhode Island Senate
- URI Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Barbara Wolfe
- URI Chief Information Officer and Associate Vice President for Information Technology Gabriele Fariello
- Yan (Lindsay) Sun, certified AI strategist and co-director of URI’s Center for Cyber-Physical Intelligence and Security (CYPHER), which she founded
“Artificial intelligence touches nearly every aspect of higher education,” said Sun. “What makes the Discovering AI @ URI event special is that it reflects this full ecosystem. We’ll hear not only from faculty and students, who always showcase remarkable innovation, but also from staff whose work keeps the University running behind the scenes.”
A faculty panel discussion, moderated by Karen Lokey, associate director of URI’s ITS Innovation Services, will include:
- Travess Smalley, assistant professor in the Department of Art and Art History
- Ying Zhang, professor in the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology
- Megan Chiovaro, part-time teaching professor in the Department of Electrical, Computer, and Biomedical Engineering
- Peter Cornillon, emeritus professor in the Graduate School of Oceanography
- Abdeltawab Hendawi, associate professor in the Department of Computer Science and Statistics
Sun will moderate the staff panel discussion, which will feature:
- Ryan Gardiner, chief business officer for the College of Engineering
- Chelsie Sullivan, CYPHER Research Center coordinator
- Lisa Chen, teaching and learning support for Information Technology Services
- Brian Blanchette, director of Systems and Technology for the URI Foundation
Jim McGwin, adjunct professor in the College of Business, will facilitate a panel discussion of undergraduate and graduate students representing a diverse range of majors and interests.
There is plenty of support and technology available at URI for students to gain hands-on experience with AI. The Library Innovation Labs, led by Keith Ranaldi, director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, is considered a collaborative hub, connecting people ideas, and resources across disciplines. Ranaldi and his staff were largely responsible for coordinating the Discovering AI @ URI event.
“We helped coordinate efforts among departments and colleges, ensuring that the hard work being done in AI research and application was visible to the entire campus community,” said Ranaldi.
The application of AI by faculty, students, and staff at URI will be on full display at the Discovering AI @ URI event.
A cold front is bringing another arctic blast to start the workweek across Southern New England.
The cold frontal passage Sunday night will usher in much colder-than-average temperatures for Monday. Low temperatures on Monday morning will be in the low 20s, with afternoon highs in the upper 20s, but it will feel like the teens all day due to the wind chill on Monday.
The coldest weather arrives for Tuesday morning as lows drop near 10 degrees in many spots with the feels-like wind chill in the single digits.
It turns a little less cold on Tuesday afternoon with highs back above freezing in the mid-30s.
Wednesday will be the mildest day of the week with highs in the mid-to-upper 40s. As temperatures climb above freezing, we could see a few light rain showers Wednesday afternoon into Wednesday evening.
Colder temperatures return again on Thursday and Friday with highs back into the 30s.
We’ll be watching next weekend for the potential of a coastal storm trying to develop, but at this point it looks likely to stay offshore and bring minimal impacts to Southern New England. Check back for updates with Storm Team 10.
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