2012 -- H 7278

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LC00956

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING PROFOUND SYMPATHY ON THE PASSING OF THE HONORABLE J.

JOSEPH GARRAHY

     Introduced By: Representatives Gallison, Fox, Mattiello, Newberry, and Tanzi

     Date Introduced: January 26, 2012

     Referred To: House read and passed

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     WHEREAS, It is with great sadness that this House of Representatives has learned of the

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passing of The Honorable J. Joseph Garrahy, a true gentleman, who served the people of our state

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with honor and integrity as the 69th Governor of the State of Rhode Island; and

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     WHEREAS, J. Joseph Garrahy was born on November 26th of 1930 in the City of

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Providence. He was the son of Irish immigrants who instilled him with the qualities of honesty,

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good manners, and a tremendous work ethic from a very early age; and

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     WHEREAS, With money earned from his paper route, Governor Garrahy attended

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LaSalle Academy. He took evening courses at the University of Rhode Island and also attended

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the University of Buffalo. Years later, he proudly received an honorary degree from Salve

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Regina College for his leadership in the areas of health, education, and youth; and

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     WHEREAS, In the 1950s, Governor Garrahy served as a full-time member of the Air

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National Guard and later served as a staff sergeant in the Air Force during the Korean Conflict.

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Upon completion of his military service, he married Margherite DiPietro and over the succeeding

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years, the couple had five children; and

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     WHEREAS, The Honorable J. Joseph Garrahy was elected by the people of Providence

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to the Rhode Island Senate in 1963. He quickly earned a reputation for being a fair and open

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leader and served as Deputy Majority Leader and also as the Democratic State Chairman. In

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1968, he was elected by the people of Rhode Island to serve as the state’s 61st Lieutenant

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Governor, and in 1976, he was elected Governor of our state and was subsequently reelected in

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1978, 1980, and 1982; and

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     WHEREAS, A man of great compassion and humility, The Honorable J. Joseph

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Garrahy was without doubt one of the most beloved governors in Rhode Island’s history.

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Confronted with an almost insurmountable challenge during the infamous blizzard of 1978,

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then-Governor Garrahy’s plaid flannel shirt became synonymous with dedication and a

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symbol for the kind of hands-on style of leadership that was a hallmark of his administration;

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and

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     WHEREAS, Governor Garrahy is credited with myriad humane, economic, and

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environmental accomplishments, including restructuring the state’s prison system and the

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Ladd School, initiating steps to stop pollution of Narragansett Bay, presiding over

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development of the Greenhouse Compact, and endeavoring to bring additional businesses

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into the state; and

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     WHEREAS, After leaving office, Governor Garrahy continued to shape and influence

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a brighter future for the Ocean State with his involvement in a panoply of organizations. He

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was also employed as a business consultant and served on the board of the Southeastern New

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England Shipbuilding Corp. and the Providence and Worcester Railroad Co.; and

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     WHEREAS, In addition to his loving wife of more than five and a half decades,

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Margherite, Governor Garrahy was the beloved father and supportive father-in-law to Colleen

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Mahoney and her husband, Michael, John Garrahy and his wife, Barbara, Maribeth Hardman and

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her husband, Robert, Sheila Mitchell and her husband, Gregory, and Seana Edwards and her

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husband, Michael. He was also the very proud “poppy” to eleven grandchildren; and

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      WHEREAS, There is little doubt that The Honorable J. Joseph Garrahy’s compassion

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and work ethic set a standard for excellence in public service that inspired this state. He will

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forever be remembered for his extraordinary leadership and for his deep commitment to serving

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the citizens of the State of Rhode Island; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

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Providence Plantations hereby expresses our deepest sympathies to the entire Garrahy Family on

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the passing of Governor J. Joseph Garrahy; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mrs. Margherite Garrahy and Family.

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LC00956

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