2019 -- S 0808

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LC002487

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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 CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF SHARON COTTER, EMT-P, RN,

FNP

     Introduced By: Senator Gordon E. Rogers

     Date Introduced: April 24, 2019

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

     WHEREAS, Sharon Cotter, EMT-P, RN, FNP, passed away on April 8, 2019, with her

devoted husband, Tim, at her side; and

     WHEREAS, Sharon Cotter was born in Providence, a daughter of the late Helen Walsh.

She joined the United States Air Force after graduating high school and served as a medical

specialist. While serving, she attained a Bachelor's degree in Biology and took numerous nursing

and medical classes which prepared her for a career as a medical professional; and

     WHEREAS, After completing her military service obligations, Mrs. Cotter worked for

the Providence Journal as a District Manager for many years. During this period, she obtained a

Medical Technician License, and volunteered much of her free time in service to the North

Kingstown Ambulance Corps, which later became Exeter Rescue, and Swansea Ambulance

Corps, and with the Town of Foster after becoming a resident; and

     WHEREAS, In 1991, Mrs. Cotter became a Registered Nurse after graduating from the

Saint Joseph School of Nursing. She started her career with Kent County Memorial Hospital,

working in the Intermediate Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. She furthered her education by attaining

a Bachelor's degree in Nursing from Rhode Island College and a Master's degree as a Family

Nurse Practitioner from Quinnipiac University in 2004; and

     WHEREAS, Mrs. Cotter's passion for helping people led her to join the Rhode Island

Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) and the Rhode Island Medical Reserve Corps

(MRC), and she deployed many times to all parts of our nation to assist people who were harmed

by natural disasters including Hurricane Katrina. She also helped to conduct annual flu vaccines

in Foster and the surrounding communities; and

     WHEREAS, Mrs. Cotter loved her adopted Town of Foster, where she volunteered on the

town's rescue for nearly thirty years, serving for twelve years as the Commander of the Rescue.

Additionally, she wrote numerous grants in order to obtain advanced equipment, and educated

and trained EMTs and taught CPR; and

     WHEREAS, In addition to her husband, Mrs. Cotter leaves behind her brother Dennis

Walsh and was the niece of the late Robert Brown; and

     WHEREAS, Mrs. Cotter was a devoted wife and cared deeply about her family, her

many friends, her community, her patients, and last but not least, her beloved dogs. She made a

difference in the world and her love and compassion for people will live on in the hearts of all

who knew and loved her; now, therefore be it

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

expresses its deepest condolences to the Cotter Family on the passing of Sharon Cotter; 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 Tim Cotter and Dennis Walsh.

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LC002487

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