Aaron Kevin Rice
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Aaron Kevin Rice, 40, passed away unexpectedly of an accidental fall on Sunday May 16, 2021 in Raleigh, North Carolina. He was born February 5, 1981 in Springfield, Vermont the son of Kevin and Juanita (Blodgett) Rice. Aaron graduated from Springfield High School class of 2000, playing varsity soccer four years, serving as captain his senior year and performing in numerous plays with the Drama Club.
Aaron served in the United States Army Reserve with the 405th Combat Support Hospital, deployed to Kuwait in Operation Enduring Freedom in 2002 as a medic/surgical tech, achieving the rank of Sergeant. He was awarded the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal and the Exemplary Medal for the Global War on Terrorism.
In 2014 Aaron graduated from Salem State University in Salem, MA with a BS in Geological Sciences, inducted into the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society and the Sigma Xi Research Honor Society. He worked as a Surgical Technician at North Shore Medical Center before moving to Wilmington, NC to attend the University of North Carolina Wilmington, where he received a Masters of Geoscience in May of 2021, presenting a thesis entitled "Lithodemic, Lithologic and Structural Analysis of the Eastern Raleigh terrane in the southern Macon Quadrangle". While at UNCW, Aaron was a teaching assistant for summer field courses in WV and New Mexico and winner of the 2018 Earth & Ocean Sciences Patricia Kelly Teaching Award and the 2018 UNCW Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award.
Aaron was employed as a Geologist with the North Carolina Geological Survey / Piedmont Program. He authored three abstracts, co-authored seven abstracts and completed seven geologic maps including two as the lead mapper; all for the North Carolina Geological Survey and the US Geological Survey. He was an active member of the Geological Society of America and North Carolina Geological Society.
He is survived by his parents Kevin and Juanita Rice of Springfield, VT, two sisters, Laura Rice and her fianc? Jonathan Seder of Watertown, MA, and Ami Rice and her son, Lucas Kevin Rice of Springfield, VT. Aunts and uncles; Wayne and Nancy Rice of Kennesaw, GA, Karl and Katie Rice of Nashua, NH, Brian and Karen Blanchette of S. Burlington, VT, Ronald and Mariette Rice of Essex Jct., VT, Ed and Diane Blodgett of Barre, VT, and Andy and Nicky Blodgett of Underhill, VT; four dear friends he considered brothers, James Manly, Matt Matush, Warner Smith and Jeffrey Russeau as well as numerous cousins, friends and colleagues.
He was predeceased by paternal grandparents Wayne and Frances Rice of Orleans, VT, maternal grandparents Donald and Rena Blodgett and uncle Lucien Blodgett all of Barton, VT.
Friends may call at the Davis Memorial Chapel in Springfield, VT, Tuesday, May 25 from 6-8 PM.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date and announced at the same time, details of an educational trust for his nephew, Lucas, where donations can be made in Aaron's memory. The family will be planting a tree in Aaron's honor as a personal memorial and encourage others to do the same.