2012 -- S 2782

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LC02164

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

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

EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF MARGARET (PEG) LAURENCE

     

     

     Introduced By: Senators Sosnowski, Nesselbush, Paiva Weed, Hodgson, and Algiere

     Date Introduced: March 14, 2012

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

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     WHEREAS, It is with great sadness that we have learned of the passing of Margaret

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(Peg) Agnes Laurence, a woman who was deeply devoted to her family and friends. Our thoughts

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and hearts hold great empathy and sorrow for her family. We grieve with her partner of thirty-two

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years, Lise Iwon, her siblings Robert, Clare Dunn, William, and Thomas Henry, her extended

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family of Dana Iwon, Michael Iwon, and Toby Prioletta, and her nieces, nephews, and

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grandnieces, on their tremendous loss; and

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     WHEREAS, Peg graduated from the University of Rhode Island, then worked for Rhode

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Island Blue Cross and Lever Brothers. She returned to school and graduated summa cum laude

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from Rhode Island College, with a masters degree in counseling education; and

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     WHEREAS, In 1982, Peg received a Juris Doctorate from Franklin Pierce Law Center,

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now the University of New Hampshire Law School. For twenty-nine years, Peg and her partner

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Lise, operated Laurence & Iwon, Attorneys at Law, with world headquarters in Wakefield, Rhode

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Island; and

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     WHEREAS, Peg was a lawyer, mentor, teacher, philanthropist, civil libertarian, and

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business woman who enjoyed sailing and playing golf; and

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     WHEREAS, Peg was a tenacious fighter and a zealous advocate. She was deeply

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involved in numerous community activities, ranging from the arts and theater, to the

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disenfranchised and victims of all forms of discrimination and abuse. Her vision, leadership,

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compassion, and generosity created change that improved the quality of lives throughout the

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Rhode Island community; and

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     WHEREAS, Peg served on several boards, including Domestic Violence Resource

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Center of South County, the Women's Fund of Rhode Island, Perspectives Corporation, Ocean

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State Theatre Company, and The Elizabeth Buffum Chace Center, and was active with Day One,

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the Rhode Island affiliate of the ACLU, the Rhode Island Bar Association, Rhode Island Legal

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Services, Habitat for Humanity, the YWCA of Rhode Island, Marriage Equality of Rhode Island,

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Planned Parenthood, and the Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders of Boston; and

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     WHEREAS, Even though we are diminished by this loss and mourn Peg’s passing, so

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must we celebrate the spirit, generosity, and courage with which she lived every day of her life.

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Margaret Agnes Laurence was truly a renaissance woman; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

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hereby expresses our deepest sympathy to the family of Margaret Agnes Laurence. She will be

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truly missed; 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 duly certified copies of this resolution to Lise Iwon and the family of Margaret Agnes

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Laurence.

     

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LC02164

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S2782