2017 -- S 0521

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LC001781

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING THE HONORABLE ROBERT W. GEMMA ON HIS RETIREMENT

AFTER THIRTY-FIVE YEARS OF DEVOTED AND DISTINGUISHED SERVICE TO THE

CITIZENS OF RHODE ISLAND AND THE RHODE ISLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

     Introduced By: Senators Lombardi, Algiere, Felag, Lynch Prata, and Lombardo

     Date Introduced: March 02, 2017

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

     WHEREAS, The Honorable Robert W. Gemma was born in Providence, Rhode Island,

on January 31, 1958, the son of Gennaro "Jerry" Gemma and Joan Gemma. He graduated from

LaSalle Academy and Rhode Island College, and was a light-weight wrestler in high school; and

     WHEREAS, Robert Gemma was elected in 1980 to represent the citizens of the West

End of Providence in the Rhode Island General Assembly and served with honor and integrity

from 1981 to 1983. He was a member of the House Committee on Special Legislation, the Joint

Committee on Accounts and Claims, and was a member of the Providence Preservation Society;

and

     WHEREAS, Robert Gemma has worked tirelessly for the Rhode Island State

Government Intern Program, serving as its Director for approximately thirty years. During his

tenure, he has given thousands of Rhode Island college students, and Rhode Island residents

attending non-state schools, the chance to gain college credits and valuable career and

professional experience working for numerous Rhode Island state government entities. More

importantly, his passion for helping these students, and abiding concern for their futures was a

quality that always impressed all observers of the intern program, including many grateful

parents. He also went beyond his job responsibilities on many occasions when he and his family

hosted many international students who took part in the program. One visit to his office to see his

amazing collection of college pennants and college caps immediately gave one an understanding

of just how much the intern program, and helping his student participants, meant to Robert

Gemma; and

     WHEREAS, Robert Gemma will also be fondly remembered for his effervescent

personality and his snazzy sartorial style. His cheerful and friendly personality had the effect of

immediately putting nervous students at ease, and he was usually a sight to remember wearing

fancy suits and suspenders, often with an old-fashioned tobacco pipe in his mouth. His most

important quality though, was his devotion to duty and desire to help people. He worked

countless hours, including some weekends, doing everything humanly possible to meet the needs

of his interns. He would take the time to get to know them and their goals and would scour state

government and talk to numerous program directors seeking intern positions and duties that

would give these students a proper and fast start on their career aspirations. The number of

grateful people that Robert Gemma helped and became friends with is countless; and

     WHEREAS, Robert Gemma is a devoted father to his children, Laura and Paul, and a

doting grandfather to his grandson, Joshua. He is also a passionate sports fan and an enthusiastic

supporter of the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots. For relaxation in his spare time,

he enjoys fishing. His legacy of exemplary and meritorious public service is one that will be long-

remembered by all who knew him and took part in the Rhode Island State Government Intern

Program under his direction; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby congratulates Robert W. Gemma on his retirement after thirty-five years of dedicated and

distinguished service to the citizens of Rhode Island and the Rhode Island General Assembly. We

wish him a most happy retirement and continued success in all his future endeavors; 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 Honorable Robert W. Gemma.

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LC001781

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