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When Rodney Burkett thinks about his late husband, Ike, he remembers his eyes — kind, gentle, and welcoming, a window into the generous spirit that defined Ike's life. "He had an empathy for people that was really remarkable," Rodney reflects. "He was always looking out for others."

Ike Coney grew up near the ocean in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he would often visit the beach before work just to watch the sun rise over the water. He navigated segregated schools as a child, served in the U.S. Army, and built a successful career in banking — carrying with him, always, an instinct for making people feel seen. A natural connector, Ike could sense when someone was having a hard day and offer just the right words or moment of levity to lift their spirits.

Ike and Rodney spent nearly three decades living in Indiana, where Rodney cared for his aging parents, before the prospect of a fresh start brought them to explore New England. Rhode Island, it turned out, would become the place where Ike felt most at home. When visiting Providence, Ike wandered into a downtown coffee shop and, for once, simply blended in — no stares, no sense of being made to feel different. "He felt welcome," Rodney shares. That quiet moment of belonging stayed with Ike, and after Rodney was offered a job at the Community Libraries of Providence, the two settled in Rhode Island for good.

Ike was just 66 when he passed away unexpectedly in September 2024. In the months that followed, Rodney found himself searching for a way to carry forward what Ike had meant to him and to the world. "After Ike passed — such a loving and giving person — I needed to carry on that idea of giving," he says.

To honor Ike's love of the ocean and his devotion to helping others, Rodney established the Isaac (Ike) J. Coney Memorial Scholarship Fund at Rhode Island Foundation to support Rhode Island residents pursuing studies in marine life sciences, oceanography, or medical sciences at the University of Rhode Island, with a focus on improving the health and well-being of ocean ecosystems and people alike.

Rodney had long understood the power of philanthropy, having supported his own alma mater, Ball State University, for many years. When he looked to honor Ike, the Rhode Island Foundation offered the flexibility and personal attention he needed. "It's a wonderful opportunity for me to be fulfilled," he says, "to be able to do something like this."