2017 -- H 5407

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING SINCERE CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF RALPH CATUOGNO

     Introduced By: Representatives Winfield, Costantino, Fogarty, Williams, and Mattiello

     Date Introduced: February 07, 2017

     Referred To: House read and passed

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

Catuogno, the loving husband of fifty-nine years to the late Olive Catuogno, and the cherished

father of Marilyn Harrington, Carolyn Cancelliere, Sandra Rego and her husband, Michael, Dr.

Linda Nield and her husband, Timothy, our friend and colleague, Lori Catuogno, Leslie

Catuogno, and the late Ralph M. Catuogno, and the father-in-law of the late Steven Cancelliere.

He was also the very proud grandfather of Adam, Michael, Joshua, Olivia, and Timothy; and

     WHEREAS, Born in Providence, Mr. Catuogno was the son of the late Elia and Restituta

Catuogno, and the brother of Dr. Anthony Catuogno, and the late Teresa Catuogno, and Marie

Catuogno. He was a graduate and had been an outstanding student and athlete at Central High

School, and had attained his Bachelor's degree in Chemistry from the College of the Holy Cross;

and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Catuogno served our country with honor and distinction in the United

States Army during the Korean War. He was a conscientious and hard-working man, and had

been employed as a pharmaceutical chemist and had been a pioneer in the research and

development of cardiac medications; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Catuogno had been an advocate for the development of myriad youth

programs in Rhode Island, and particularly in the advancement of women's sports programs. For

more than sixty years, he had served as a basketball official for high school sports, and at the

collegiate level, as the Official Timer for Brown University, Bryant University and Providence

College; and

     WHEREAS, In addition, Mr. Catuogno had served as the Past President and

Commissioner of the Rhode Island Basketball Officials Association, and for forty years, had been

the Volunteer Director of Girls and Boys Basketball Leagues for the Smithfield Recreation

Department. He was also one of the founders of the Smithfield summer basketball program; and

     WHEREAS, An active and contributing member of numerous organizations, Mr.

Catuogno was widely admired in the community and had been honored with numerous accolades.

He had been inducted into the Rhode Island Interscholastic Hall of Fame, the Order of Sons of

Italy Hall of Fame, the Smithfield Heritage Hall of Fame, the Rhode Island High School Coaches

Football Hall of Fame, and the New England Basketball Hall of Fame. In addition, Mr. Catuogno

had numerous scholarships in his name that have benefitted numerous young scholar-athletes

throughout the state. Also, the Town of Smithfield had honored him by proclaiming April 6,

1979, as "Ralph Catuogno Day," and dedicated the basketball courts at Anna M. McCabe School

in his name; and

     WHEREAS, Our thoughts and hearts hold great empathy and sorrow for Mr. Catuogno's

family and many friends and admirers. He enriched the lives of all who knew him and 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 on the passing of Ralph

Catuogno; 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 Ms. Lori Catuogno.

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