2017 -- H 6370

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LC002964

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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 EUGENE J.

MCCAFFREY, JR.

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

     Date Introduced: June 28, 2017

     Referred To: House read and passed

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

Honorable Eugene J. McCaffrey Jr., beloved husband of Ann McCaffrey, and the proud father of

District Court Judge Mary E. McCaffrey, our friend and colleague, Senate Majority Leader

Michael J. McCaffrey and his wife, Deirdre, John T. McCaffrey and his wife, Margaret, Eugene

J. McCaffrey, III, and William D. McCaffrey and his wife, Heather; and

     WHEREAS, Born in the City of Providence, Mr. McCaffrey was a son of the late Eugene

and Catherine McCaffrey, and brother of William M. McCaffrey, Robert F. McCaffrey, Irene A

Livsey, and the late Jacqueline F. McCaffrey. He grew up in the Oakland Beach neighborhood of

Warwick, graduated from La Salle Academy, and received his Bachelor's degree from Providence

College; and

     WHEREAS, Upon receiving his degree, Mr. McCaffrey served our country with honor in

the United States Marine Corps., attaining the rank of Major before his discharge. He returned

home and began working for Mayor Horace E. Hobbs as an Executive Secretary while earning his

Juris Doctor from Suffolk Law School in the evenings. After passing the bar, he opened one of

the first fulltime law practices in Warwick, where he maintained a flourishing private law practice

for more than five decades. He was also licensed to practice in the United States District Court

and the United States Supreme Court; and

     WHEREAS, In 1966, the Honorable Eugene McCaffrey was elected to the Rhode Island

House of Representatives, and subsequently, to the Rhode Island Senate. Highly respected and

widely admired, he was elected Mayor of the City of Warwick in 1972, and served for two terms;

and

     WHEREAS, Throughout his lifetime, Gene McCaffrey was a member of various

organizations which contribute their time and efforts to making Rhode Island a better place to live

including, the Warwick Council Knights of Columbus, charter member of Gaspee Days

Committee, Warwick Rotary Club and the Tri-City Elks Lodge. He was also a communicant and

trustee of St. Benedict Church; and

     WHEREAS, In addition to his wife and children, Mr. McCaffrey was the adored

"Gramps" to Michael, Cailin, Brenna, Catherine, Deirdre, Brendan, Matthew, and Luke; and

     WHEREAS, The Honorable Eugene McCaffrey possessed a brilliant mind, and a fair and

magnanimous spirit. He had the love of his family and friends, the admiration of his peers, and

gratitude of the citizens of our state for his steadfast and dedicated public service, and he will be

profoundly missed by those who had the good fortune to be a part of his vital and fulfilling life;

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 the Honorable

Eugene J. McCaffrey, Jr.; and be it further

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

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Mrs. Ann McCaffrey, the Honorable Mary E.

McCaffrey, the Honorable Michael J. McCaffrey, John T. McCaffrey, Eugene J. McCaffrey, III,

and William D. McCaffrey.

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