#MiddletownRI businessman Rocky Kempenaar is honored with an induction to the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame for helping bring people together.
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CONTACT: Matt Sheley at (401) 842-6543 or msheley@middletownri.com
ROCKY KEMPENAAR HONORED
WITH RI HERITAGE HALL OF FAME INDUCTION
MIDDLETOWN, R.I. (APRIL 25, 2023) – To Robert “Rocky” Kempenaar II, he was just carrying on a family tradition.
To others, the local businessman’s annual gathering at the Kempenaar Clambake Club for incoming foreign military officers at the Naval War College is about so much more.
Recently, Kempenaar was named as a member of the 2023 Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame for his work bringing together people from across the world in a low key, informal setting at his family’s club off Valley Road.
Kempenaar will be recognized with eight other dignitaries during a May 6 ceremony at 5 pm from The Crowne Plaza Pavilion in Warwick. To make reservations, visit https://mdl.town/RIHHOF online.
“When I heard about the nomination, I had absolutely no idea,” Kempenaar said, chuckling. “To think I’m involved with something like this? It’s such an honor. I think what the clambake shows is how much we can get along, no matter where you’re from or what your outlook might be.”
A former vice president of the Middletown Town Council, Kempenaar is best known for his successful hospitality business, including hotels across the community — and region.
He and his partners James Karam and Chris Bicho are also working with the town on plans to redevelop 15 underused acres at 600-770 West Main Road, a project known locally as “Middletown Center.”
When asked about the Heritage Hall of Fame nomination, Kempenaar spoke about his family’s connection to Middletown — and Aquidneck Island.
In 1956, Kempenaar said his grandfather Esau hosted his first clambake for the newly arriving class of foreign officers at the war college. As immigrants from Holland deeply rooted in the local nursery industry, Kempenaar said his grandfather and grandmother Saime saw the need to build bridges between those from across the globe.
Out of that understanding, the clambake was born as a way to give officers, their families and others a chance to “let their hair down” and “loosen their ties a bit” in a less formal setting while experiencing some New England hospitality.
That way, he said incoming students could get to know one another as people first, something that could help set the right tone for their stay at the war college — and beyond.
“I’ve heard more than a few stories about how connections made at the clambake have helped,” Kempenaar said. “Sometimes, all it takes is that connection, that bond, and a phone call to make all the difference.”
This year, the Kempenaar clambake is celebrating its 67th year. It’s typically held late in the summer at the family’s operation off Valley Road, a quiet oasis overlooking Middletown Valley Park. The clambake includes all lobsters, clams and all the fixings at no cost to attendees.
The Naval War College was created in 1884 and is billed as the “oldest institution of its kind in the world” and the “nation’s premier war college.” More than 50,000 students have graduated since the first class of nine students in 1885.
According to the war college, about 300 of today’s active-duty admirals, generals and senior executive service leaders were students.
And since the program for international officers was established in 1956, more than 4,500 international alumni from 137 countries have attended the college. Around 10 percent of those alumni have become chief of their country’s navy.
“You never know where these connections come in handy,” Kempenaar said. “Those ties from meeting someone in Rhode Island can make all the difference and I still have friends from this event all over the world. I look forward to (the clambake) every year.”
The other Class of 2023 Honorees include: Gail Cahalan-Conley, Steve Kass, Barbara Papitto, J. Lynn Singleton, Justice O. Rogeriee Thompson, Gene Valicenti, Robert “Bob” Venturini and James Winoker.
“I met everyone being recognized during an event in Providence (during the week of April 10),” Kempenaar said. “What a great group of people and honestly, what an honor to be mentioned in the same breath with any of them.”
As for Kempenaar’s role in all this, he remained the same “Rocky.”
“I’m just doing what my parents and grandparents did before me,” Kempenaar said. “Last year, to be Grand Marshal (of the Newport St. Patrick’s Day Parade) and now this? I just want people to have a good time and feel welcome here and know they’re under my wing for a few hours and to be recognized for that? It’s all very humbling.”
Document Link: https://www.middletownri.com/DocumentCenter/View/8479/ NYCU-RK
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