Emil 'Duke' Faubert, 95, Retired YMCA President

Emil “Duke” Faubert, formerly of Barrington, died Saturday, Nov. 23, 2013. He was 95.

He was the beloved husband of the late Barbara “Bobbie” (Kippax) Faubert, his wife of 52 years. Born in Pawtucket, he was the son of the late Arthur and Eugenie (Roberts) Faubert.

Faubert is survived by three daughters, Donna Jordan of South Portland ME; Pamela McCauley and her husband Gary of Monson, MA; Gail Killian and her husband Manny Silva of Seekonk MA; 9 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. He was also the brother of Arthur (Joe) Faubert of Frederick PA and the late Armand Faubert and Jeannette Gatta.

Faubert lived in Barrington for many years before moving to East Bay Manor and Epoch on the East Side of Providence. 

He served as president of the Greater Providence YMCA until his retirement. He added 3 new branches to the existing five, one on the East Side of Providence, the Newman branch in Seekonk, and the South County branch in Wakefield. He raised over $4 million for the new branch facilities and modernized the downtown Central Branch.

He served from 1976-1982 as a member of the Board of Trustees for the YMCA Retirement Fund and the YMCA International Committee. He has been a Rotarian for over 60 years in four different clubs and served as president of the Norwalk CT and Springfield MA clubs. He is also a Paul Harris Fellow.

During 1990-91 he served as District Governor of the Rotary International District. He served a three-year term as the president of YMCA Professionals USA and later as president of the World Federation of YMCA Professional Directors for four years. He was also the Vice President East of the North American Fellowship of YMCA Retirees. 

A graduate of Springfield College in 1943, he was called to active duty with the Army commissioned as a 2nd Lt. serving in central Europe and was released with the rank of captain. In 1946, he then began his lifelong career with the YMCA starting in Wallingford CT where he established a new YMCA and raised funds for a new building. In 1952, he became the Executive Director in Norwalk CT and during that time established the first YMCA in New Canaan CT. In 1958, he became the Executive Director of the Springfield YMCA where he served for 15 years and raised over $4 million to construct a new downtown facility that included residences for men and women. In 1962, he was selected as one of three YMCA professionals from the USA to tour and study the youth programs in the USSR. 


Faubert was very active in church work in each community he served and was most recently a member and Deacon of the Barrington Congregational Church. He served on the Board of the United Church of Christ of RI, the Interfaith Health Care Ministries, and the founding committee on the Board of Aging 2000.

For 10 years, he served part-time on the faculty of the Graduate School at Springfield College. He was awarded the Tarbell Medallion, the highest alumni award from Springfield College and was a consultant on planned giving. During his lifetime, he worked with 24 non-profit organizations.

Calling hours will be Saturday, Nov. 30, from 4 to 7 pm in the Smith-Mason Funeral Home, 398 Willett Avenue, Riverside. A memorial Service will be held on Sunday, Dec. 1, at 1 pm in the Barrington Congregational Church, 460 County Road. 

With the financial help of a board member of the Pawtucket YMCA, he was able to go to Springfield College. Therefore, in lieu of flowers, his family is establishing the Duke Faubert Scholarship Fund to help a student get the same start he had at Springfield College. If you desire, you may make checks payable to the “Duke Faubert Scholarship Fund” c/o the Memorial Fund at the Barrington Congregational Church.