2014 -- S 2045

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LC003348

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING ITS DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF GEORGE W.

TENNIAN

     Introduced By: Senators Goodwin, Ruggerio, and Ciccone

     Date Introduced: January 14, 2014

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     WHEREAS, George W. Tennian of Melbourne, Florida passed away on December 31,

2013 at William Childs Hospice House in Palm Bay, Florida after fighting a courageous battle,

with strength and dignity, against pancreatic cancer; and

     WHEREAS, George W. Tennian was born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, the son of the

late George and Mary (Kennedy) Tennian. George lived until his retirement in 2000, in

Massachusetts and Rhode Island. He worked as a meatcutter for Almacs Supermarkets in Rhode

Island until 1973, when he became a Business Representative for the Meatcutters and Food Store

Workers Union, which later became the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 328,

based in Providence and serving Rhode Island, eastern Connecticut and southeastern

Massachusetts. George was subsequently elected Vice-President, Recording Secretary, Secretary

Treasurer and, in 1994, was elected President, a position he held until his retirement; and

     WHEREAS, In 1995, George established the Local 328 Golf Tournament to benefit the

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Since its inception, the tournament has raised over one

million dollars for the charity. George was also a member of the Board of Directors of the

National Safety Council, a Trustee in the UFCW and Employers Interstate, Health and Welfare

Fund, a Trustee of the UFCW and Employers New England Pension Fund, and a Trustee of the

UFCW International Union Industry Pension Fund. He was First Vice-President of the

Providence Central Federated Labor Council, a member of the Executive Board and Executive

Committee of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, a Vice-President of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO and a

Vice-President of the New England Council of the United Food and Commercial Workers. He

also served on the Board of Directors of the United Way of Southeastern New England and was

also a member of the Providence Civic Center Authority; and

     WHEREAS, George Tennian is survived by his wife Phyllis (Cotton) Tennian, daughters

Robin Provonsil and her husband Cliff, and Helene Holdgate and her husband Russ, grandson

Matthew Provonsil, granddaughters Holly and Erin Holdgate, and sister Patricia Mills and her

husband Arthur; now, therefore be it

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

hereby expresses its deepest condolences to the Tennian family on the passing of George

Tennian; and be it further

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

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Phyllis (Cotton) Tennian, Robin Provonsil, and

Helene Holdgate.

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LC003348

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