Around New England

Wife of Former Dominican Priest and Former Providence College President Dies

May 22, 2018

Pauline Burke had been the secretary of Father William P. Haas for about four years when Haas announced in December 1970 that he would be resigning as president of Providence College.

He later applied to the pope to laicize him so he could marry Burke, both of which happened in August 1973.

The former Dominican priest subsequently taught at several colleges, and served as president of the former North Adams State College from 1979 to 1983. He retired as a professor of humanities from Bryant College in Smithfield, Rhode Island in 1996.

While Haas was president of Providence College from 1966 to 1971, the school abolished its dress code and approved a policy allowing women to be admitted as students.

Pauline Haas, 94, died last week at a hospital in Providence, with her husband of 44 years by her side, according to the Providence Journal.

A funeral Mass was celebrated Monday at St. Mary’s Church in Newport, where Mrs. Haas served as a Eucharistic minister.