Randolph B. Totten II, 84, passed away on April 23rd at his home in Newport, RI surrounded by his loving family.
Randy was born on July 15, 1939 to Randolph J. and Elaine (Quick) Totten in Trenton, NJ. He was the brother of the late Dee Angell. Randy attended Hamilton High School and graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a B.S. in engineering in 1961.
Randy married Nancy Strong on December 23, 1961. He was stationed at Fort Adams in Newport, where he and Nancy started their family. They both fell in love with Rhode Island and decided to stay after Randy left the Navy in 1967.
The young family moved to Jamestown in 1970. During this time, Randy was a partner at Arthur Young, an accounting and consulting firm in Providence. Randy’s best times in Jamestown were spent coaching his kids’ sports teams, sailing on Narragansett Bay, and enjoying a cigar while driving his MG.
In 1982, the family moved to Alexandria, Virginia. Randy worked for Arthur Young in Washington D.C. while his kids finished high school and went to college. In 1988, Randy and Nancy happily moved back to Newport. Randy was COO of Early Cloud & Co., a small software company. During this time, he purchased the 30-foot Nonsuch sailboat “The Bubba” and began to enjoy longer sailing trips around the Northeast. Randy retired in 1995, eager to devote more time to his hobbies, friends, and family. All of Randy and Nancy’s children also eventually moved back to Rhode Island and he enjoyed spending time with them for many years. Sadly, he lost Nancy to cancer in the fall of 2001.
Randy met his partner Liz Minifie in 2002. The two enjoyed a loving and active life together for over 20 years. They traveled in Europe, sailed, and enjoyed watching sports and movies together. Their happiest memories were on “The Bubba” in the back corner of Lake Tashmoo on Martha’s Vineyard.
Randy was a unique character with a wonderful sense of humor and a contagious laugh. He had a strong, cynical but playful attitude toward life. He was energetic, passionate, opinionated, stubborn, and loving. Randy definitely made his own way.
Randy is survived by his partner Liz Minifie of Newport, his children Bart Totten (Laura) of Jamestown, Craig Totten (Emily) of South Kingstown, Kurt Totten (Heather) of South Kingstown, Michele Egan (Michael) of Jamestown, and his 9 grandchildren (Casey, Julia, Matthew, Molly, Finley, Jack, Hank, Eli, Joe) as well as Liz’s four daughters Rachel Watanabe of Japan, Sarah Minifie of Newport, Rebecca Minifie of Oregon and Jessica Minifie of Oregon.
Burial will be private and a celebration of life is planned for May. The family would like to thank the Newport Fire Department, Visiting Nurses and Hospice for all their help in the past year. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to a charity such as Aquidneck Land Trust, Big Brothers, or Sail Newport.
To the Totten family,
Sorry to hear about Randy. We lost touch about eight years ago when we moved to PA. Many great memories beginning in grammar school and ending when we used to sail in Newport. May he rest in peace……
Randy personally hired me into Early, Cloud & Co back in 1994 after a contentious interview where we nearly, literally, came to physical blows. Even after that, he offered me a job, reasoning if I stood up to him I would also be able to stand up to difficult clients. Randy was the shrewdest judge of character I ever met, in my now rather long career. He was a man who could look at you and see you for what you truly were and more importantly see the potential within. Randy exemplified leadership, he knew how to bring out the very best in people and develop his employees. And make no mistake, Randy was no bouncy cheerleader coach, he transformed and steeled you in a crucible of fire, but he never put you into the forge unless he believed you would come out of it the better for the experience.
30 years ago I was still a young man, albeit one down on his luck, Randy took a chance on me. Now 30 years later, I am a modestly wealthy man, the how of it is simple, a man named Randy Totten gave me a chance when no one else would. He saw something in me, and, I am willing to bet dozens of other can tell comparable tales.
Rest in peace Randy, you remain on heck of a man.