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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING PROFOUND SYMPATHY ON THE PASSING OF SUZANNE CARCIERI

     Introduced By: Senators Algiere, Ruggerio, Morgan, Rogers, and Paolino

     Date Introduced: January 02, 2019

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

     WHEREAS, It is with great sadness that this Senate has learned of the passing of

Suzanne Carcieri, high school sweetheart and beloved wife of the former Governor of the State of

Rhode Island, Donald Carcieri for 53 years, and the devoted mother of Matthew Carcieri and his

wife, Kristin, Alison Carcieri-Cassidy and her husband, Scott, Jill Buckley and her husband,

Chuck, and Sarah Compton and her husband, Adam; and

     WHEREAS, Mrs. Carcieri was the loving daughter of the late Ivar and Patricia Owren,

and the sister of Stephen Owren, John Owren, and David Owren. She grew up in East Greenwich

and graduated from East Greenwich High School. A classic beauty, she was the first Miss East

Greenwich and runner-up for Miss Rhode Island in 1960; and

     WHEREAS, Continuing her education, Mrs. Carcieri attended the University of Rhode

Island, where she received the University’s first biology degree, and later received a Master’s

degree in Health Education at Rhode Island College; and

     WHEREAS, In 1981, the Carcieri family moved to Kingston, Jamaica. In 1982 and

1983, Mrs. Carcieri taught middle-schoolers at the Immaculate Conception School in Kingston,

before the family returned to Rhode Island. She also taught at Our Lady of Mercy Parish School

in East Greenwich; and

     WHEREAS, From 2003 to 2011, Sue Carcieri was the First Lady of the State of Rhode

Island. During her tenure, she led a statewide wellness initiative, convened a task force for the

prevention of substance abuse, created the annual “Governor’s Best” juried art show, conceived a

popular intrastate tourism initiative, and inaugurated and chaired six “Celebrate Rhode Island”

balls benefiting the Good Neighbor Energy Fund; and

     WHEREAS, Throughout her lifetime, Mrs. Carcieri was passionate about education, and

contributed myriad hours to various causes and philanthropic organizations including,

Missionaries of the Poor and Mustard Seed Communities. She was a devout Roman Catholic and

a member of Our Lady of Mercy Church; and

     WHEREAS, Honored for her altruistic endeavors, Mrs. Carcieri received awards from

the American Heart Association, her college, and in 2015, was venerated for her service to Rhode

Island when her name was added to the Wall of Honor at East Greenwich High School; and

     WHEREAS, With a kind and loving personality, Sue Carcieri created and nurtured a

marriage that flourished, and a home that was warm and welcoming. She doted on and found her

greatest joy surrounded by her family, and was especially proud of her fourteen grandchildren:

Bridget and her husband Max, Samantha, Chase, Kayla, Anna, Jack, Charlie, Nick, Donovan,

Benjamin, William, Colin, Henry and Susannah; and

     WHEREAS, Sue Carcieri was a gracious First Lady, and a loving and caring woman,

whose kindness, generosity, and wit will long be remembered by those whose lives she touched;

now, therefore be it

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

hereby expresses its deepest sympathies on the passing of Suzanne Carcieri. She will be dearly

missed and forever remembered; 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 Donald Carcieri and Family.

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