Elaine Temkin

Elaine Temkin, of Providence, Rhode Island, passed away on March 25, 2025. She was the daughter of Dr Max Baker and Edith (Leavitt) Baker. She was the sister of Eugene R Baker who predeceased her. She was born on June 7, 1925 in Boston and was raised in Newmarket, New Hampshire. She was the wife of the late David Temkin of Providence.

She attended Robinson Female Seminary in Newmarket and graduated from Cornell University in 1947. She received her Master in Education from RIC in 1966.

Elaine was an inspired teacher of history and civics and had an illustrious teaching career in Providence, primarily at Classical High School. She was a pioneer in teaching both Black History in America and Middle Eastern History at the high school level. She also taught and mentored teachers at Brown University, and other local colleges. She was the Student Teacher coordinator at Brown University, from 1988-1994, working closely with the Coalition for Essential Schools.

Elaine was recognized repeatedly for challenging her students in the classroom and supporting freedom of speech and civic engagement. She was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Human Letters from Brown (1991). At that ceremony, the President of the University, Vartan Gregorian, said: “To all who seek to renew our schools you exemplify American education at its best.” She also received a Distinguished Teacher Award from the Commission of Presidential Scholars at a ceremony in The White House Rose Garden (1987) and a National Intellectual Freedom Award (1983).

In addition to her classroom teaching, she evaluated schools and educational standards for the New England Association of Schools, 1977-87 and was President of the Rhode Island Social Studies Association (1981-82) and served on the Executive Board.

On any venture out with Elaine you were likely to run into one or more of her former students who wanted to stop and tell her the positive impact her teaching had had on their lives.

She is survived by her loving daughters, Nancy Temkin (Phillip Namanworth) and Betsy Temkin; her grandchildren, Lily (Pes), Rebecca (Alok), Max (Talia) and Kate (Aidan); and her great grandchildren (Dovi, Emuna, Yehuda and Soham) all of whom adored her.

She lived a very full and accomplished life and will be deeply missed.

Donations in Elaine Temkin’s memory can be made to: Tockwotton on the Waterfront, 500 Waterfront Drive, East Providence, RI 02914 www.tockwotton.org and HopeHealth Hospice & Palliative Care, 1085 North Main Street, Providence, RI 02904, Attn: Philanthropy. www.hopehealthco.org