2017 -- H 6291

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LC002847

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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 CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF TULLIO J. DIFRANCO, CWO4 USA

(RETIRED)

     Introduced By: Representatives Morgan, and Shekarchi

     Date Introduced: June 07, 2017

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Mr. Tullio J. DiFranco, age 91, passed away on May 20, 2017, at his home

in Cranston. He was the beloved husband of Olive C. DiFranco for sixty-five years; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. DiFranco was born on January 25, 1926, in Warwick, Rhode Island, the

son of the late Antonio and Beatrice DiFranco. He graduated from Lockwood High School in

Warwick in 1942; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. DiFranco enlisted in the United States Army on February 14, 1944, and

served our nation with honor in the Philippines and Occupied Japan as a Corporal with the 139th

AACS as an Electronic Technician for radio, radar, and radio teletype until 1946. He also served

our nation as a 1st Sergeant during the Korean War, serving in Okinawa, Japan; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. DiFranco served our nation and the citizens of Rhode Island faithfully

as a member of the Rhode Island Army National Guard from 1947 to 1986, retiring with the rank

of Chief Warrant Officer 4. He earned numerous ribbons and medals in honor of his military

service including the Legion of Merit Award, and the Minuteman Award from the Rhode Island

Army National Guard; and

     WHEREAS, From 1981 to 1984, Mr. DiFranco ran Central Stores at the University of

Rhode Island. He also worked as a Population Protection Planner for the Rhode Island

Emergency Management Agency from 1984 to 1989; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. DiFranco was an avid traveler throughout his life and visited much of

the United States and many countries across the globe, including Italy, much of northern Europe,

Russia, Japan and China. He was also a very active member of numerous veterans organizations

including the Association of the United States Army (AUSA), the Rhode Island Chapter of the

Military Order of Foreign Wars (MOFW), serving as Commander in 1980, the Providence

Marine Corps Artillery (PMCA), a charter member of the RING Retirees Association, and a

member of the Infantry Lodge; and

     WHEREAS, Besides his wife, Olive, he leaves behind his daughters Debra Ann

Thomson and her husband, Richard, and Julie Beatrice DiFranco and her fiance, John Cragin. He

also leaves behind his grandchildren, John F. Murray and his fiancée, Melissa Jandovitz-Church,

Edward J. Murray and his wife, Melissa, Matthew P. Gormley and Kelly Annis, Captain

Christopher J. Gormley and his wife, Patricia, Jessica R. Harris, Anthony T. Harris and his wife,

Allison, and Lindsey O. Harris and her fiancé, Zach Phillips. He is survived by his great-

grandchildren Nadia A. Cosper, Riley J. Harris, Jadyn Murray, Joseph Murray, Taylor Annis,

Matthew K. Gormley, and Lorelai Gormley and was predeceased by his brother, Carmine

DiFranco, and his wife Evelyn, and his two sisters, Philomena Pucino and her husband, Frank,

and Genevieve Ricard and her husband, Raymond. He is also survived by many nieces and

nephews; now, therefore be it

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

Providence Plantations hereby expresses its condolences on the passing of Mr. Tullio J.

DiFranco; 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. Olive C. DiFranco and Family.

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