2017 -- H 6066

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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

EXTENDING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF THE HONORABLE WILLIAM A.

WALASKA

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Solomon, Shekarchi, Vella-Wilkinson, Bennett, and
McNamara

     Date Introduced: April 04, 2017

     Referred To: House read and passed

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     WHEREAS, It is with profound sadness and regret that this House has learned of the

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passing of our friend and former colleague, the Honorable William A. Walaska, a longtime

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resident of the City of Warwick, a charismatic gentleman, and a well-respected former member of

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the Rhode Island Senate; and

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     WHEREAS, Born and raised in the Smith Hill neighborhood of Providence, William

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Walaska was a son of the late Chester and Celeste Walaska, and the brother of the late Henry

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Walaska. He was the devoted husband of Marsha Walaska and the beloved father of William

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Walaska, Jr., and his wife, Christine, Leslie Baxter and her husband, Robert, and Anne Marie

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DeMello, and his son-in-law Dan DeMello. He was also the proud grandfather of Robert III,

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Katherine, Grace, Daniel, Julia, William III, Ethan, and Michael; and

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     WHEREAS, William Walaska attended LaSalle Academy, and while earning his

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Bachelor's degree in Economics from Providence College, he served our country in the United

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States Navy Reserve. Continuing his education, he attended Williams College, School of

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Commercial Banking, was a graduate of Amos Tuck, Dartmouth College, Graduate School of

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Financial Management, and attained his Master's degree from Providence College; and

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     WHEREAS, A brilliant businessman with a granite work ethic, William Walaska began

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working at an early age as a newspaper delivery boy on Smith Hill and evolved to become

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President and C.E.O. of WAL Corp. DBA Werner, Sullivan & Nilsson Automotive. He had also

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been a member and officer of various organizations which contribute their time and efforts to

 

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making Rhode Island a better place to live including being a member of the American Legislative

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Exchange Council, Economic Development Corporation, Economic Policy Council, the Warwick

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Elks, the Fraternal Order of Elks, and the Knights of Columbus, and serving on the Board of the

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Greenwood Credit Union, Bishop Hendricken High School, Potowomut Country Club,

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Automotive Service Industry Association, Volunteers of Warwick Schools, Jonah Warwick

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Advisory Board, House of Hope, and the Arthur J. Trudeau Center; and

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     WHEREAS, First elected to the Rhode Island Senate on November 8th of 1994, Senator

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Walaska represented the people of Warwick in the 30th Senatorial District, a position he held

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until 2016. Highly regarded among his peers, he was named President Pro Tempore, and had

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most recently served as the Vice Chair of the Commerce Committee and as a member of the

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Environment & Agriculture Committee; and

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     WHEREAS, During his twenty-two year tenure with the Senate, the Honorable William

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Walaska fought for small businesses, clean energy, port development, and improving Rhode

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Island's economy, and his personal plight helped to shed light on issues facing others with life-

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threatening illnesses and led to the introduction of legislation requiring health insurance

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companies to cover the use of "off-label" drugs to treat such chronic and disabling illnesses; and

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     WHEREAS, The Honorable William Walaska fought his cancer the same way he lived

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his life, with humor, gusto, determination and courage. He was a remarkable man whose service,

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boundless energy, magnanimous spirit, and omnipresent good humor in the face of adversity

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represented all that is best in human nature and our State, and he will be dearly missed; now,

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therefore, be it

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

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Providence Plantations hereby offers its sincere condolences on the passing of the Honorable

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William A. Walaska, a distinguished advocate and public servant for the City of Warwick and the

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State of Rhode Island for many, many years; and be it further

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

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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Mrs. Marsha Walaska and Family.

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