2013 -- H 5026

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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

EXPRESSING SINCERE CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF JOSEPH T. FEELEY,

ESQ.

     Introduced By: Representatives Lally, Tanzi, and Naughton

     Date Introduced: January 08, 2013

     Referred To: House read and passed

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     EWHEREAS, It is with deep regret and sadness that this House has learned of the

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passing of our friend and colleague, Joseph Thomas Patrick Feeley, on Wednesday, October 17,

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2012; and

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     WHEREAS, Born in the Bronx, Joe Feeley was the son of the late Mary and Joseph

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Feeley.  He was the loving husband of Barbara Feeley, the devoted father of Kristen and her

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husband, Neal Bourn, Michaela, and Erin, and a loving papa to Liam, Aidan, and Eoin Bourn.  He

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is also survived by his sisters, Ellen Feeley, Sheila Burke, and Patricia McBride; and

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     WHEREAS, Upon graduation from Fordham University in 1962, Joe served our country

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with honor and distinction as a United States Marine during the Vietnam War. Stationed with the

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1st battalion 3rd Marine division, Joe earned several Distinguished Service medals before his

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retirement in 1966 at the rank of Captain; and 

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     WHEREAS, Subsequent to his service in the Marines, Joe attained his Master's degree in

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Business Administration from the University of San Diego.  He later earned his law degree from

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Suffolk University Law School.  He and Barbara made their home in Cranston for many years,

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and later moved to Narragansett; and  

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     WHEREAS, In July of 1977, Joe began his service with the State of Rhode Island as a

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Mental Health Advocate/Legal Advisor.  In 1987, he was hired by the General Assembly's Joint

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Committee on Legislative Services as an attorney with the Office of Legislative Council, a

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position he held until his retirement on August 27th of 2011.  In addition, Joe also served as

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General Council to the Greater Providence Deposit Corporation for numerous years; and

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     WHEREAS, In 1983, Joe underwent a heart transplant at Stanford University Hospital. 

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In later years, he endured two subsequent kidney transplants and a multitude of procedures; and

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     WHEREAS, Though he was a man who cherished his privacy, Joe reached out to other

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transplant families to share his experiences.  He was a founding and active member of the Rhode

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Island Organ Donor Awareness Coalition (RIODAC) and later served as a board member of the

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New England Organ Bank; and

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     WHEREAS, Throughout his life and in spite of battles with his health, Joe maintained an

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unending desire to take care of his family and always upheld a strict Yankee work ethic.  His

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courage, optimism, and dignity throughout his illness was inspiring and his sharp Irish wit and

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amazing sense of humor were endearing and will be sorely missed by all who had the good

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fortune to have shared his life; 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 Feeley Family on

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the passing of Joseph T. Feeley; 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. Barbara Feeley and Family.

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