Mo Zarchen, 90, of Kingston, R.I., died peacefully at home on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2010. He was director of athletics at URI for 19 years, following six successful years as head coach of basketball at Pratt Institute. He was chairman of the URI Department of Physical Education for 13 years, and is credited with much of the growth of the Department of Athletics and its teams during his administrative tenure.

He enlisted in the U. S. Army in 1942 and served in the infantry for three years during World War II. He received several commendations, including two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star. As a member of the infantry, he participated in the landing at Utah Beach in Normandy on D-Day, the liberation of Paris, the Battle of the Bulge, and the crossing of the Rhine River at Remagen.

After his military service, he graduated from Rhode Island State College in 1949 and received his master’s degree from Columbia University.

He was the beloved husband of Barbara Tresler Zarchen, M.L.S. ’70. They were married for 56 years. Besides his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Jane Vachon of Wilmington, N.C.; and Ann Knoblock and her husband, Henry, of Sudbury, Mass.; and three grandchildren, Christopher, Caroline, and Sophia Knoblock.

He was a member of the URI University Club, the Dunes Club, and Point Judith Country Club.

Memorial contributions may be made to the URI Foundation in support of The Maurice Zarchen Endowment Fund in Hockey, 79 Upper College Road, Kingston, RI 02881-2023.