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Voices
from another time and place
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Aug. 4, 1939-Aug. 13, 2002
Thomas Ahlburn of Greensboro, Vermont, died August 13, 2002, in Burlington, Vermont. He was the Minister Emeritus of the First Unitarian Church of Providence, Rhode Island, where he served for 25 years before retiring on January 1, 2000.
Mr. Ahlburn also ministered to Unitarian Universalist congregations in Springfield, Massachusetts, and Ottawa, Ontario.
Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, he was educated at the University of Cincinnati, Oberlin College, Vanderbilt Divinity School, and the University of Ottawa. While in Rhode Island, Mr. Ahlburn was a religion page columnist for the Providence Journal, and was selected for inclusion in a volume honoring Rhode Island 's one hundred most remarkable people.
Twenty-five of his poems have been set to music by the American composer Ron Nelson, and have been performed around the world. Active in numerous civic organizations and causes, the Rev. Ahlburn was a member of the United Nations' commission to rebuild the Buddha's birthplace and of the Rhode Island Gay and Lesbian Board.
He was the first individual to receive the William McLoughlin First Amendment Award from the American Civil Liberties Union, and chaired several political campaigns. He is survived by his wife, Ruth Lawrence of Greensboro, and his daughters Heather Ahlburn of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Megan Ahlburn of Tahoe City, California.