2015 -- H 5036

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LC000335

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF THE HONORABLE LILA M.

SAPINSLEY

     Introduced By: Representatives Regunberg, Newberry, Ajello, Blazejewski, and Tanzi

     Date Introduced: January 08, 2015

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, It is with great sadness that this House of Representatives has learned of the

passing of the Honorable Lila M. Sapinsley, beloved wife for sixty-nine years to the late John M.

Sapinsley, and the devoted mother of four daughters, Patricia Sapinsley and her husband, Harold

Levy, Joan Sapinsley and her husband, Richard Lewis, Jill Mooney and her husband, James, and

Carol Rubenstein and her husband, Alan. She was also the loving grandmother to nine beautiful

grandchildren and a well-respected former Rhode Island State Senator; and

     WHEREAS, Ms. Sapinsley was a trail-blazer and champion for women's issues and open

government. While serving as a Rhode Island State Senator, she became the first female to hold a

leadership post after being chosen by her Republican peers to become the Senate Minority

Leader; and

     WHEREAS, In addition to her service to our state in the General Assembly, Ms.

Sapinsley was a mentor and trusted advisor to decades of Rhode Island's leaders as well as

generations of young women across the state. She served as the Public Utilities Commissioner,

Chairwoman of the Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation, and was a

constitutional convention delegate; and

     WHEREAS, Throughout her lifetime, Ms. Sapinsley was an active and contributing

member of the community, working with countless community organizations including Trinity

Repertory Company, Butler Hospital, Providence Public Library, Rhode Island Board of Regents,

Dorcas' Place, American Civil Liberties Union, Planned Parenthood of Rhode Island, and

Wellesley College; and

     WHEREAS, Ms. Sapinsley had also been active in her support for both education and the

arts. She was an advocate and a force behind the creation of the Community College of Rhode

Island and was one of Rhode Island College’s greatest supporters. She and her husband John

endowed a theater at Rhode Island College, which is named the Lila and John Sapinsley Hall in

their honor; and

      WHEREAS, Still dedicated and vigorous at the age of ninety-two, Lila Sapinsley had not

only earned the unqualified admiration and respect of those she worked with, but also their

loyalty, love, and devotion. She was a woman of rare grace, gentility, strength, and immense

wisdom who enriched the lives of all who knew her. She will be greatly missed; now, therefore

be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby expresses our deepest sympathies to the entire Sapinsley Family

on the passing of the Honorable Lila M. Sapinsley; 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 Patricia Sapinsley and Family, Joan Sapinsley

and Family, Jill Mooney and Family, and Carol Rubenstein and Family.

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LC000335

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