2020 -- S 2018

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LC003387

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020

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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 MARCIA B. REBACK

     

     Introduced By: Senators Ruggerio, McCaffrey, Goodwin, Gallo, and Lawson

     Date Introduced: January 15, 2020

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

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     WHEREAS, Marcia Reback, a distinguished educational professional and union leader,

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was born in 1944 in Fall River, Massachusetts, the daughter of the late Ruth Gladstone and

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William Reback. After her father passed away when she was nine, Marcia and her mother lived in

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Florida with relatives before moving to Rhode Island; and

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     WHEREAS, Ms. Reback was a graduate of Hope High School, the University of Rhode

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Island and the University of Connecticut. After finishing her studies, she was hired to serve as a

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teacher at the City of Providence’s Veazie Street Elementary School; and

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     WHEREAS, Ms. Reback’s interest in and passion for educational justice and equality,

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and improving the quality and pay for teachers, led her to focus on an administrative career, in

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which she eventually rose to the positions of President of the Providence Teachers Union,

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President of the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals, and Vice

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President of the American Federation of Teachers. She also served as the Vice President of the

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Rhode Island AFL-CIO; and

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     WHEREAS, For decades, Marcia played an instrumental role in helping to formulate

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Rhode Island educational policy. Ms. Reback assisted in the drafting of the first charter-school

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law in Rhode Island, worked tirelessly to establish an equitable state funding formula for schools,

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and played a vital role in helping to resolve the bitter dispute that occurred between the Central

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Falls teachers and school officials. In addition, her enthusiastic support of the State’s Race to the

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Top application played a key role in Rhode Island winning a federal grant; and

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     WHEREAS, Even in retirement, Ms. Reback continued to work tirelessly on behalf of

 

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social justice and equality issues. She served with distinction on the Labor Relations Board, the

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Rhode Island Retirees Pension Committee, and on the State Investment Commission. She was a

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generous supporter of and contributor to the Hope High School Dollars for Scholars fund; and

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     WHEREAS, Ms. Reback was an active and passionate supporter of the Democratic Party.

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She will soon be posthumously honored with the first ever Frank Montanaro, Sr. Award, an

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award created by the Democratic Party to honor those who have sacrificed on behalf of organized

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labor; and

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     WHEREAS, Ms. Reback deeply valued her relationships with her many cherished

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friends. She was always there for a friend in need, whether it was offering good advice, a

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listening ear, or being a great dinner companion. Ms. Reback also enjoyed reading in the

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company of her cats, Stevie Brown, Samantha, and Miss Kitty, and was an enthusiastic devotee

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of the music of Frank Sinatra; and

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     WHEREAS, Ms. Reback leaves behind Beverly and Frank Prosnitz, Gail Gladstone,

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Marty Kantrowicz, Jack Friedenn, Harvey Reback, David Reback, Charles Reback and Marlene

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Haslam; now, therefore be it

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

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hereby expresses its deepest condolences to the Reback Family on the passing of Marcia B.

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Reback; and be it further

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

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transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Beverly and Frank Prosnitz, Gail Gladstone,

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Marty Kantrowicz, Jack Friedenn, Harvey Reback, David Reback, Charles Reback and Marlene

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Haslam.

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LC003387

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