2013 -- H 5002

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LC00163

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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

CONGRATULATING JOHN STELLITANO FOR BEING INDUCTED INTO THE CLASS OF

2013 RHODE ISLAND INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC HALL

OF FAME

     Introduced By: Representatives Azzinaro, Corvese, and Kennedy

     Date Introduced: January 02, 2013

     Referred To: House read and passed

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     WHEREAS, John Stellitano is a lifetime Westerly resident. A member of the Westerly

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High School class of 1941, he was a three-sport star who excelled in football, baseball, and

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basketball. In football he was a single-wing quarterback who captained his team in his senior year

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and was named First-Team All-State by the Providence Evening Bulletin. He also played outfield

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for the Bulldog baseball team and forward-center in basketball, earning All-Class B basketball

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honors his junior and senior years; and

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     WHEREAS, John Stellitano played freshman football in 1941 at Rhode Island State

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College (renamed the University of Rhode Island in 1951) before he enlisted in the United States

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Army Air Corps in February of 1942, just two months after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

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John earned his wings as a lieutenant and served our nation during her hour of greatest need with

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honor, valor, and courage. John flew the maximum of 36 B-17 bomber missions over Germany

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(from England) and was honorably discharged in the Spring of 1945, around the time Germany

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was surrendering; and

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     WHEREAS, John also married his high school sweetheart, Mary Capalbo, just after he

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earned his wings in the United States Army. Now, 69 years later, they still reside in Westerly and

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together raised two daughters and a son; and

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     WHEREAS, John returned from the war and resumed his studies. He graduated from

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URI in 1948 with a bachelor’s degree in science and attained a master’s degree in administration

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in the mid-1950’s. John taught math and physics and coached baseball at Lockwood High School

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in Warwick for four years before returning to Westerly and embarking on his legendary coaching

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career in basketball at Westerly High School; and

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     WHEREAS, John was an assistant coach for three years from 1951 to 1954 before being

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named head basketball coach at Westerly High School. He coached Westerly High School

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Basketball for twelve years and compiled an astounding 210-82 record and a 71.9 winning

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percentage. Under his direction, his teams won four state titles in 1955, 1956, 1958, and 1960;

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and

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     WHEREAS, John left Westerly High School in 1966 to become one of three principals at

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Ludlow High School in Fairfield, Connecticut. He retired from teaching in 1991 and never

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coached again after leaving Westerly High School. Over the years, John never lost touch with the

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people he coached. He forged a very close bond with his players and was beloved and respected

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by them. After all these years, he still gets together with his former players to talk about old

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memories and to offer advice and support as they go about their daily lives; and

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     WHEREAS, John Stellitano is also an inductee of the Rhode Island Basketball Coaches

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Association Hall of Fame and is a member of the inaugural class of 1999 in the Westerly High

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School Athletic Hall of Fame; 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 congratulates John Stellitano of Westerly, Rhode Island, for being

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inducted into the Class of 2013 Rhode Island Interscholastic League High School Athletic Hall of

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Fame. We also thank him for his heroic service to our nation during World War II and we wish

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him continued happiness and good fortune in his retirement; 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 Mr. John Stellitano.

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LC00163

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