2013 -- S 0792

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LC02184

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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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 THE HONORABLE EDWARD J.

COONEY

     Introduced By: Senators Sheehan, Paiva Weed, Walaska, Hodgson, and Jabour

     Date Introduced: March 27, 2013

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

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     WHEREAS, It is with great sadness that this Senate has learned of the passing of The

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Honorable Edward J. Cooney, a beloved husband and father, former member and past President

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of the North Kingstown Town Council, and a well-respected member of the community; and

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     WHEREAS, Mr. Cooney was born in Providence into the large and boisterous family of

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the late Honorable John P. and Margaret M. Cooney. He was the devoted husband of Mary C.

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Cooney for thirty-six years and was the loving father of Edward J. Cooney, Jr., and his wife,

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Katie, Neal T. Cooney, and the late Meghan C. Cooney. He is also survived by three brothers,

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Michael, Terrance, and James Cooney, three sisters, Kathleen Puchella, Agnes Chretien, and

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Anne Cooney, and brother of the late John, Robert, Patrick, Margaret, and Clara Cooney; and

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     WHEREAS, Upon graduation from LaSalle Academy, Mr. Cooney received his

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Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the College of Holy Cross and his Master’s degree in

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Taxation from Bryant University. He had played basketball and baseball during his high school

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and college days, was a member and past president of the Holy Cross Club of Rhode Island, and

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had been awarded the Outstanding Alumnus of the Year; and

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     WHEREAS, An astute and industrious man, Mr. Cooney was employed as the Senior

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Vice President of Nortek. He had previously served as the Executive Vice President and CFO of

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AMTROL and was on the Board for Gilbane Inc., AT Cross Co., Bank Newport,  and Leonard

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Valve; and

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     WHEREAS, Always an active and contributing member of the community, Mr. Cooney

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was successfully elected to the North Kingstown Town Council, serving as a member and as

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Council President from 2004 through 2008. He was a member and the former Chairman of the

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Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, former Chairman of Kent Hospital, Trustee of Care

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New England, and the founder and Chairman of Engage RI. He had also served for three terms as

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President of the Point Judith Country Club and was a member of the Dunes Club and the

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University Club; and

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     WHEREAS, Earning a plethora of accolades and awards during his lifetime, Mr. Cooney

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was honored with the Ambassador of Peace Award from the World Peace Summit, was named

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Grand Marshall of the Providence St. Patrick's Day Parade, and was the Person of the Year in

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2011 for the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Providence, to name just a few. He had also been a

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communicant of St. Bernard Church; and

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WHEREAS, Throughout his life, Mr. Cooney had very much enjoyed staying actively

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involved in sports. He was the past president of the Wickford Little League and was head coach

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of the Ireland National Baseball Team in 2002. One of his greatest joys had been coaching the

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youth of North Kingstown in soccer and baseball; and

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     WHEREAS, Mr. Cooney was also widely-admired and involved at the state level as well

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as within his community. He had served as Chairman of Attorney General-Elect Peter Kilmartin's

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transition team, Chairman of the Providence Commission on Revenue, Sufficiency, and

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Sustainability, former member of the Providence College Investment Committee, a member of

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the Governor’s Commission to Review the EDC from 2009 until 2010, and a member of the

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Governor’s Commission to Review Tax Structure from 2008 through 2009; and

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     WHEREAS, Ed Cooney was a gentleman and a dedicated public servant. He left this

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world a far better place because of his life’s endeavors and enriched the lives of all who knew

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him. He will be dearly missed; 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 sympathies to the entire Cooney family on the passing of The

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Honorable Edward J. Cooney; and be it further  

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

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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mrs. Mary C. Cooney and Family.

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LC02184

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