In Memory: Clifton Vrooman Rice

Clifton Vrooman Rice, of South Dartmouth, MA, died on Wednesday, December 20, 2023, from Alzheimer’s disease. He was the beloved husband of Margaret-Ann (“Mickie”) Rice and the father of Edward Oren Rice and Margo Jeanne Rice.

Born in New York City in 1943, Clif was the second of the six children of Charles W. and Jane Vrooman Rice living in Rye, New York. Clif went to public schools in Rye, NY and then to Brown University in Providence, RI. At Brown, he met Mickie when they were both majoring in Art History. After graduation in 1964, Clif took a motorcycle tour of Europe, and then returned to work in advertising in New York City. Clif and Mickie were married on May 15, 1965. Clif joined the US Army in March 1967 as an officer candidate. He completed training and was commissioned as an Infantry officer in October 1967. He was sent to additional training as an Information Officer after which he was posted to Seoul, Korea.

Returning to the US in 1969, Clif went to Boston University Graduate School of Communications. While at BU, Clif worked at the campus radio station WBUR developing their news programming. He was putting together his talents for writing and speaking, developing a career in public communication and information presentation.

After graduating from BU in 1971, Clif and Mickie lived in Cambridge and then settled in Lincoln, MA. Clif took a job at Houghton Mifflin Company in the New Media Department. The textbook publisher was beginning to look at other types of media to interact with textbooks. The New Media Department developed film, video, and audio. Computers and software were added to educational products. Cif was promoted the Head of the New Media Department and then made a Vice President in charge of developing software products. Clif stayed at Houghton Mifflin until 1985. He then went on to work for Cullinet Software Company producing informational and educational videos for software customers.

In 1990, Clif was recruited to join a small media department in Fidelity Investments. Under the creative inspiration of the company president Ned Johnson, Clif was asked to create an independent media company within Fidelity. Fidelity needed innovative media to communicate within the company as it was rapidly growing. Fidelity Images was created and grew under Clif’s management, eventually occupying a new, state-of-the-art studio in the Boston Sea Port. The group designed and produced informational and training videos, news and interviews and podcasts.

Clif retired from Fidelity in 2007 and moved with Mickie to the house that they built in South Dartmouth. Once settled, Clif immediately became a volunteer at the Whaling Museum in New Bedford where he enjoyed giving tours to children and adults. He also became involved with the Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust (DNRT). He became immersed in the local history and gave his skills to helping both organizations improve their public communication. He walked the woods, cleared trails, moved rocks for DNRT and served as president from 2011 to 2017 during which the Helfand Farm was transformed into the DNRT headquarters. He loved hiking and biking, but the premier event of retirement was the purchase of a 32′ sailboat, which he sailed from Padanaram Harbor. He discovered singing late in life and belonged to two chorus groups; Sharing a New Song of Sudbury, MA, and the New Bedford Choral Society. His favorite performance was The Messiah in St. Anthony’s Cathedral in New Bedford with the New Bedford Symphony.

Of the six children in Clif’s family, two have already passed. He is survived by his older brother, Charles Wesley Rice III of Pelham Manor, NY; his sister Jill Bendick of Winter Park, FL and her husband Bob; and his youngest brother, John Rice and his wife Patty of Boca Grande, FL. His son Edward and wife Mary have three children: Tessa, James and Adele Rice. His daughter Margo has one child: Marit Rice-Barr.

A Memorial Gathering is planned for late May, 2024.

In Clif’s memory, please make a contribution to research diagnosis and treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, through the Alzheimer’s Association. Or you may choose to donate to Dartmouth Natural Resource Trust; The Whaling Museum; the New Bedford Symphony; or another worthy organization.

Arrangements are in the care of the Waring-Sullivan Home at Dartmouth.