2017 -- H 5338

========

LC001174

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

____________

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING SINCERE CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF JOSE M. CASTRO

     Introduced By: Representatives Mattiello, Blazejewski, Ackerman, Price, and Edwards

     Date Introduced: February 01, 2017

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, It is with great sadness that this House has learned of the passing of Jose M.

Castro, devoted husband of sixty years to Marcia J. Castro, and the beloved father of Maria

Castro-Iasimone and her husband, Thomas, Daniel Castro and his wife, Maria, Gloria Parenteau

and her husband, Jason, Andrea Castro, and the late Marcelino Jose Castro. He was also the very

proud grandfather of six beautiful grandchildren, Jessica Bullock, Casandra Cabral-Castro,

Andrew Iasimone, Carra-Lynn Cabral-Castro, Marcelino Christian Cabral-Castro, and Collin

Cabral-Castro; and

     WHEREAS, Born in Brava, Cape Verde Islands (CVI), Mr. Castro immigrated to the

United States in 1948. He was a son of the late Marcelino A. and Maria Castro, and was

predeceased by his siblings Rosa, Julia, Ambrosio, Artur, and Joao; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Castro had served our country with honor and distinction in the

Merchant Marines until he was drafted into the United States Army during the Korean War,

where he worked as a cook to the gastric benefit of his fellow troops. Upon discharge, Mr. Castro

continued his service in the Merchant Marines for another twelve years, followed by eight years

in the Coast Guard Reserves. He was subsequently a member of the American Legion Coast

Guard Reserves until his passing; and

     WHEREAS, A hard-working man, Mr. Castro had worked as a Federal Police Officer for

the General Services Administration. During his twenty-eight years as a Federal Police Officer,

he would oftentimes escort and guard various high-ranking dignitaries throughout the state. He

was also fluent in five languages and had worked as an interpreter and translator for the Federal

and Superior Courts, and taught Portuguese, English, and Civics to adults in the community; and

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

had served on the board of the Providence Health Center (Progress for Providence), and on the

Brown University Board of Admissions Interview Panel for local residents of the Fox Point

neighborhood and other communities around Providence; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Castro was also a multi-faceted and quite gifted poet. His poetry had

been published numerous times and he was a member of the Poet's Society in Washington, D.C.

In addition, he was an agriculturalist, who grew a panoply of herbs. Students at the University of

Rhode Island would often visit his gardens to examine and learn about the properties of his rare

plants; and

     WHEREAS, Throughout his lifetime and in spite of battles with his health, Jose Castro

maintained an unending desire to take care of his family and was a steadfast gentleman who left

this world a far better place because of his life's endeavors. He enriched the lives of all who knew

him and he will be dearly 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 Castro Family on

the passing of Jose M. Castro; and be it further

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

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mrs. Marcia J. Castro and Family.

========

LC001174

========

LC001174 - Page 2 of 2