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

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

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

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

the Rhode Island Senate; and

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Environment & Agriculture Committee; and

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

represented all that is best in human nature and our State, 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 offers its sincere condolences on the passing of the Honorable

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

State of Rhode Island for many, many years; 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 the Mrs. Marsha Walaska and Family.

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