2019 -- S 0920

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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 BEVERLY A. SODERBERG

     Introduced By: Senators Lynch Prata, Ruggerio, Morgan, Conley, and Rogers

     Date Introduced: May 28, 2019

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     WHEREAS, Beverly Soderberg, the devoted wife of Dr. Clarence Soderberg, Jr., for

fifty-four years, passed away on May 19, 2019; and

     WHEREAS, Mrs. Soderberg graduated from Killingly High School in Connecticut and

furthered her studies at the University of North Carolina, where she attained a Bachelor’s degree

in Physical Education. Athletics were a vital part of her life, and she was an exceptionally

talented athlete, especially in basketball and tennis. Early in her distinguished career, she coached

basketball at Staples High School in Connecticut and compiled a sterling record of achievement,

including winning a State Championship Title; and

     WHEREAS, Mrs. Soderberg served as the President of the Warwick Heights Tennis Club

for twenty-two years. In recognition of her many years of devotion and service to the Club, the

“Bev Soderberg Pavilion” was named in her honor. She was also very active at the Tennis RI

West Bay location, running the women’s color teams for more than a decade; and

     WHEREAS, Mrs. Soderberg served for many years as the President of the Warwick

Figure Skaters where she significantly increased their membership, making it the third largest

skating club in the United States. In recognition of this extraordinary achievement, and in honor

of her many other civic service endeavors, she was awarded the key to the City of Warwick; and

     WHEREAS, Throughout her life, Mrs. Soderberg was the ideal wife and mother and was

involved in all facets of her children’s lives. In the summer, the Soderberg home and pool were

the place to be for neighborhood kids to swim, play wiffle ball, ping pong, basketball, and get

served ice cream every day at 3:00 PM. She was also a talented gardener who maintained

gorgeous gardens, an ardent scrabble player, and loved going to the beach; and

     WHEREAS, In addition to her husband, Mrs. Soderberg leaves behind her children,

Leslie Soderberg Deiss and her husband, Jeffrey, Eric Soderberg and his wife, Kathryn, and Kurt

Soderberg and his wife, Elizabeth. She is also survived by her six grandchildren, Jeffrey and

Caroline, Eric and Ellie, and Zachary and Gregory, and her twin brother, David Dorman. She was

predeceased by her brother, Dr. Brian Dorman; and

     WHEREAS, Mrs. Soderberg bequeathed a sterling record of athletic accomplishments

and a lifetime of abiding love for her family. Her passing is a grievous loss but she will live

forever in the hearts and minds of all who knew and loved her; now, therefore be it

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

hereby expresses its condolences to the Soderberg Family on the passing of Beverly Soderberg;

and be it further

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

transfer a duly certified copy of this resolution to Dr. Clarence H. Soderberg, Jr., and Family.

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