2020 -- S 2152

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LC003536

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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 DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF BARRY JOHN RICCI

WHO WAS THE DISTINGUISHED SUPERINTENDENT OF THE CHARIHO REGIONAL

SCHOOL DISTIRCT

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

     Date Introduced: January 29, 2020

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     WHEREAS, Barry John Ricci, the highly respected Superintendent of the Chariho

Regional School District, passed away on December 22, 2019, after a courageous fight with

cancer. A resident of Foster, Mr. Ricci was the beloved husband of Lisa Ricci for thirty-five

years; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Ricci was born in Providence, raised in North Providence and attended

public schools in North Providence. He attained a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary

Education from Rhode Island College and a Master’s degree in Elementary School

Administration from Providence College. He began his exemplary education career serving as a

teacher at St. Aloysius School in Greenville, then later at St. Augustine School in Providence. At

the young age of twenty-three, he became the Principal at St. Joseph’s School in West Warwick;

and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Ricci started his public school career at Maisie E. Quinn School in West

Warwick, where he served as the Assistant Principal. He later served as the Principal of the

Western Coventry Elementary School for fourteen years; and

     WHEREAS, In 2001, Mr. Ricci came to Chariho to serve as the Assistant Superintendent

before being named the Superintendent of the Chariho Regional School District in 2005. Over the

last fifteen years, Mr. Ricci has worked tirelessly to make the school district a place that met the

needs of the entire community, from students, parents and teachers to the hardworking taxpayers;

and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Ricci was responsible for eight schools and 3,000 students. Under his

leadership, guidance and direction, Chariho was transformed into one of the top ten performing

school districts in Rhode Island and became a vibrant and innovative place to teach and learn. Mr.

Ricci raised academic standards by eliminating all classes that were below high school level

expectations, and added Advanced Placement courses; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Ricci’s other accomplishments were the completion of the renovations

of the Chariho campus in 2011, a project that had been languishing since 1992, and the

renovation of the Alternative Learning Academy in 2014. In 2018, in recognition of his numerous

achievements, Mr. Ricci was named the Superintendent of the Year by the Rhode Island

Superintendents Association. He was also a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and the best

friend anyone could have. Mr. Ricci was a communicant of Holy Apostles Church and served as a

Eucharistic Minister; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Ricci never stopped fighting for his school community, even while

fighting his cancer. He stayed in contact with Legislators and State Officials even while preparing

for surgery, and literally called and emailed people from his hospital room. In the words of Rhode

Island Commissioner of Education, Angelica Infante-Green, Superintendent Ricci “never stopped

working for Chariho schools, and he will be dearly missed by all of us in education, in Chariho,

and across the State”; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Ricci, in addition to his wife Lisa Ricci, leaves behind his sons,

Christopher and his wife, Diana, and Michael and his wife, Jessica. He also leaves behind his

grandson Samuel John, his parents John V. and Evelyn Ricci, and was the brother of Debra Maio

and her husband, Michael. He was the son-in-law of Dick and Marie Mazzarella, and also leaves

behind his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, and numerous nephews and nieces; now, therefore

be it

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

hereby expresses its deepest condolences to the Ricci Family on the passing of Barry John Ricci;

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 Mrs. Lisa Ricci and Family.

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LC003536

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