2016 -- H 8355

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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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 ARTHUR B. CORVESE

     Introduced By: Representatives Mattiello, Kazarian, DeSimone, Azzinaro, and Jacquard

     Date Introduced: June 16, 2016

     Referred To: House read and passed

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

B. Corvese, devoted husband of 53 years to Olive Corvese, and the beloved father of our friend

and colleague the Honorable Dr. Arthur Corvese and his wife, Terry, and Lorraine Savage. He

was also the very proud grandfather of Maria Lenz and her husband, Matthew, and Christina

Corvese; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Corvese was the son of Emilio and Domenica Corvese, the brother of

the late Elia Corvese, and half-brother of Steven Evangelista. He was a graduate of Ezek Hopkins

Junior High, where he received the Senator Anthony medal for "Best All-Around Male Student,"

and Mount Pleasant High School, where he was a standout athlete, breaking four school track

records and making All-State in the 220 yard dash in his sophomore year, and All-State in the 100

and 220 yard dashes in his senior year; and

     WHEREAS, Upon graduation from high school, Mr. Corvese attended Providence

College on a track scholarship, attaining his Bachelor of Arts in Education, and graduating in

1954. During his collegiate years, he ran at Madison Square Garden and in the Penn Relays,

breaking his own personal best 440 yard time. From 1954 through 1956, he served our country

with honor in the United States Army and was stationed at Walter Reed Army Hospital in

Washington, D. C.; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Corvese began his teaching career as a seventh grade Social Studies

teacher in Massachusetts before moving to Burrillville, Rhode Island, in 1959, where he was

hired as a seventh and eighth grade teacher in the former four-room Mapleville Grammar School,

and was made principal/teacher for the next three years. In September of 1963, he was appointed

Supervising Principal of the former Pascoag Grammar School. He received his Master’s Degree

in Administration and Supervision on the Secondary Level from Rhode Island College in 1965,

and retired in 1985; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Corvese's professional associations included serving as past President

of the Burrillville Teachers Association, former Director of the Safety Junior Police Program for

all the Burrillville Elementary Schools, and being a life member of the Rhode Island State

Teacher’s Association; and

     WHEREAS, Active in civic organizations, Mr. Corvese was a Charter Member of the

former Burrillville Jaycees Chapter, serving as State Director, Vice-President, and Executive

Vice-President, and achieving a Life Membership as Jaycee Senator 7047 and receiving the

Young Outstanding Educator trophy award in 1967. He was also actively involved in the

establishment of the Jaycee Chapter at the ACI during the 1960s; and

     WHEREAS, In addition, Mr. Corvese was an active member of the Burrillville Lions

Club for 47 years. He served on numerous Lion's committees, and had worked his way up to

serving as its President. He was the Burrillville Lions Club’s first state-wide District Governor,

and was immensely proud to be the first member of Rhode Island Lions District 42 to be honored

with the prestigious national Melvin Jones Fellowship Humanitarian award. He was subsequently

also honored with the Progressive Melvin Jones award. He also helped to found the Lions Club

on Block Island and served as the Region I Director of the Rhode Island Lions Sight Foundation.

He remained a Life Member as a Director Emeritus; and

     WHEREAS, A contributing member of the community, Mr. Corvese was the former

Vice-Chairman of the Burrillville Planning Board, and a charter member, founder, and President

of the Good Sam Camping Chapter RI-17, the Little Rhody Sams. In addition, as a cancer

survivor, he supported the American Cancer Society and participated in its annual Relay-For-Life

beginning in 2006; and

     WHEREAS, Arthur Corvese lived his life by a motto from his Junior High School, "Not

for School, but for Life, we Learn!" He emulated the spirit of this motto throughout his lifetime

and instilled this belief in his children. He was a remarkable gentleman whose life was filled with

family devotion and service to his fellow man. He will be deeply missed; now, therefore be it

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

Providence Plantations hereby extends its sincere condolences on the passing of Arthur B.

Corvese; and be it further

     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 Mrs. Olive Corvese, the Honorable Dr. Arthur

and Terry Corvese and Family, and Lorraine Savage.

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