Rhode Island
‘She breathed life and love into everything’: Popular music teacher mourned in Smithfield
SMITHFIELD – The town bade farewell this week to a teacher whom Superintendent Dawn Bartz described as “a presence” in the schools and in the community at large.
Katherine Young, 37, a music and theater teacher, died Dec. 30 after a brief, sudden illness that published reports have described as complications from influenza.
Young started as a part-time high school music teacher 10 years ago.
“She went beyond just what her job was,” Bartz said Wednesday, the day of Young’s funeral. That extended to adding more duties to her position.
“She really advocated and built it into a full-time position,” Bartz said. Not only did Young teach theater and music at the high school, she also lent a hand in the middle school drama program and worked with music teachers at the elementary schools, reaching students of all ages.
“Her fierce and passionate dedication to the SHS community will never be forgotten,” the high school’s music boosters club posted on Facebook when announcing Young’s death. “Her smile shone brightly. May her legacy live on through the lives of those she has touched.”
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Among her duties, Young oversaw the fall and winter concerts at the high school and its spring musical. On the last Friday before the school’s December break, Young presided over the winter concert with the same energy she brought to all aspects of her job, Bartz said.
But, two weeks later, she died.
“I couldn’t believe it,” said Bartz. “She was too vibrant, too alive, too energetic.”
The spring musical, “The Addams Family,” will be held in April this year instead of its customary March, with students playing the roles Young had selected for them before the break.
“She was dedicated to her students, not only as a teacher, but also as a mentor and advocate who provided support to anyone who needed it,” said an obituary prepared by her family. “She breathed life and love into everything in which she was involved.”
“Where she was was always a joyful place where kids wanted to be,” said Bartz. “You couldn’t help smiling when you were around Katherine.”
Young was popular with students, including at school pep rallies. “She always got the loudest cheers,” the superintendent said. “She was never afraid to be herself. She didn’t care if she came across goofy, silly, serious. She was authentic.”
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The boosters club closed its Facebook post: “Thank you, Katherine, for making our world a better place.”
Young, who lived in Greenville, was born in Providence, the daughter of Stephen C. and Cheryl A. (Mulcahey) Olszewski. She was the partner of Richard “Ricky” E. Young and the granddaughter of Dora and the late Daniel Mulcahey and the late Theodore and Olga Olszewski. She was the mother of Remy and Ramona Young and sister of Christina Wolf, of Providence.
A graduate of Coventry High School, Young held a bachelor’s degree in music education from Gordon College and a master’s in education from the College of St. Rose in Albany, New York.
Rhode Island
GoLocalProv | News | NEW: RI Woman Previously Arrested 100 Times Charged in Death of Pedestrian
Saturday, December 06, 2025
PHOTOS: Hopkinton Police
Hopkinton Police announced on Saturday that it responded to a one-car motor vehicle accident in the area of 42 Spring Street (Route 138), Hope Valley. When Officers arrived on the scene, they discovered that a pedestrian walking his dogs had been struck by the vehicle.
The woman charged in the incident had previously been arrested 100 times.
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Police said in a statement, “At this time, it is believed that the motor vehicle, driven by 41-year-old Shannon N. Godbout of 332 Canonchet Road, Apt. 203 was traveling eastbound on Spring Street when she left her lane and struck several objects, including two telephone poles and a pedestrian walking his dogs on the shoulder of the eastbound Lane.
The pedestrian victim has been identified as 70-year-old Roderick Macleod, who resided at 12B Pleasant Street, Richmond, Rhode Island. Macleod was transported to Rhode Island Hospital by Hope Valley Ambulance.
Macleod died from his injuries.
“At the scene of the accident, Officers discovered that Shannon N. Godbout was in possession of numerous illegal narcotics and packaging materials commonly associated with drug distribution. She was placed under arrest at the scene and subsequently transported to Westerly Hospital for medical evaluations by Ashaway Ambulance.
This accident is currently under investigation with assistance from the Rhode Island State Police Accident Reconstruction Team,” said the Police.
Shannon N. Godbout is facing preliminary charges for the following criminal offenses:
– Driving to endanger, resulting in death
– Possession of narcotics, Schedule I/II with intent to distribute, 3rd plus offense
Shannon N. Godbout will be scheduled to appear before a Justice of the Peace and presented to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office as a criminal violator for past charges for which she is currently on suspended sentences/probation.
The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges may be brought against Godbout as further evidence is gathered.
100 Arrests
Hopkinton Police cite:
– Godbout’s criminal history includes over 100 arrests, with 8 of them from the Hopkinton Police Department.
– 82 court warrants have been issued for Godbout previously.
– Godbout has received 40 traffic citations, with 7 of them issued by Hopkinton Police.
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WATCH: URI and Brown coaches speak postgame on Dec. 2, 2025
The Rhode Island Rams beat the Brown Bears on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025.
PROVIDENCE — Rivalry week in Rhode Island continues.
It’s the best week of the year as the state’s college basketball teams play each other and no matchup is bigger than Rhode Island vs. Providence. The Providence Journal’s Jacob Rousseau and Bill Koch are downtown today to cover the day.
Tip is set for noon at the Amica Mutual Pavilion.
It’s the 135th matchup between the in-state rivals with Providence leading the all-time series, 77-57. Rhode Island won last year’s game, 69-63, in Kingston. Rhode Island hasn’t won in Providence since Dec. 7, 2002, when it captured a 73-71 victory.
Follow along for live updates from the game!
Live updates from Rhode Island vs. Providence men’s basketball
11 a.m. — Both teams have taken the courts for warm ups now. Students have started to trickle into their sections in the AMP’s endzones. We’re just over an hour before tip in this rivalry matchup.
10:36 a.m. — Providence’s Duncan Powell is on the court warming up with a mask. The forward hasn’t played since Nov. 14 with a facial injury. Kim English said, after the Friars’ win vs. FDU, that Powell could be available today.
9:45 a.m. — We’re here bright and early at Amica Mutual Pavilion. Broadcast crew from TNT — operating as TruTV this afternoon — getting settled.
Officials for this matchup are Lamar Simpson, Greg Evans and Tim Clougherty. Simpson and Clougherty were on the whistle Friday night at Pizzitola Center, a 75-56 win for Brown over Bryant. Evans has been off since Wednesday night, a Sacred Heart road win at Mount St. Mary’s.
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