2013 -- H 5861

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LC01716

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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 PROFOUND SYMPATHY ON THE PASSING OF FRANK DIPAOLO, JR.,

HONORARY SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE

     Introduced By: Representatives Fox, Mattiello, Corvese, San Bento, and McNamara

     Date Introduced: March 06, 2013

     Referred To: House read and passed

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     WHEREAS, On Thursday, February 14, 2013, the State of Rhode Island lost one of its

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greatest treasures with the passing of Frank DiPaolo, Jr.; and

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     WHEREAS, Mr. DiPaolo, who was 106 years old, devoted his life to steadfastly

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supporting the American dream and to tirelessly working to make a better life for generations of

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Rhode Islanders. For the last three decades, he was a much-loved inhabitant of the State House.

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Much more than his title of doorkeeper conveyed, Frank generously shared his wisdom, his

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unqualified friendship, and his sharp sense of humor with legions of members of the Rhode Island

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General Assembly; and

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     WHEREAS, In 2010, Frank was designated as "Honorary Speaker of the House" in

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special recognition of his more than thirty-two years of wisdom, humor, loyalty, unqualified

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friendship and distinguished service to the Rhode Island House of Representatives; and

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     WHEREAS, Frank was married to the late Eugenia DiPaolo, and together, they raised

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Evelyn, Thomas, Claire, and the late Richard. He was also blessed with fifteen grandchildren,

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seventeen great-grandchildren and a newly arrived great-great granddaughter and was the brother

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of Clara and the late Etta, Philip, and Anthony; and

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     WHEREAS, Frank’s life was replete with a wealth of experiences and a significant array

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of relationships. In his youth, he passionately pursued bicycle racing. He was also an assistant to

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Dr. Thomas F. Scanlon for many years, and built a friendship with the doctor that was based on

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mutual respect and a shared love of hunting and fishing; and

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     WHEREAS, Frank displayed considerable talent as a mechanic and maintained a small

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fleet of flower cars. While he considered it a thrill to travel to Indianapolis to watch the Indy 500,

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in his heart, no other vehicle ever came close to his 1926 Packard touring cars; and

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     WHEREAS, For many years, Frank and his brother, Philip, were the owners of the Castle

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Spa on Chalkstone Avenue, a must visit destination that earned its reputation for having the best

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ham sandwiches in the state; and

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     WHEREAS, Frank’s adult life was marked by energy and enthusiasm for local, state, and

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national politics. He consistently supported those political candidates he thought could change the

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world for the better. In 1928, he backed New York Governor Alfred Smith in the Governor’s

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unsuccessful run for President. Frank went on to help fuel the campaigns of fifteen Rhode Island

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governors and over thirty General Assembly races; and

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     WHEREAS, Frank played an especially prominent role in supporting former

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Congressman Patrick Kennedy, when the Congressman was still a student at Providence College

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and Castle Spa customer who dreamed of becoming a statesman. Frank saw the budding

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leadership in young Patrick and provided him with seasoned advice and encouragement that won

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him a seat in the Rhode Island House of Representatives and paved the way to a successful bid

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for Congress. Congressman Kennedy counted Frank as one of his must trusted advisors and

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friends, and Frank, in turn, considered Congressman Kennedy as his “number three son”; and

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     WHEREAS, At the age of 99, Frank attended a White House dinner and met the

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President, but he was most proud of having a private audience at the Vatican with Pope John Paul

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II; and

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     WHEREAS, Frank DiPaolo achieved an extraordinary impact over the course of his

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lifetime, through his actions and through the actions he inspired in others. A man of immense

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conviction, he never wavered in his support of what he thought was right and good; now,

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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 its profound sympathy on the passing of Frank DiPaolo,

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a man whom we regard as Honorary Speaker of the House. Our grief today is the grief of Rhode

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Island; and be if further

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

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transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the DiPaolo Family and The Honorable Patrick

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Kennedy.

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LC01716

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