2022 -- H 7108

========

LC004020

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

____________

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF LEGENDARY MOUNT

SAINT CHARLES ACADEMY ICE HOCKEY HEAD COACH, NORMAND BERNARD

BELISLE

     Introduced By: Representatives Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Phillips, S Lima, Filippi,
Hawkins, Costantino, Fogarty, Shallcross Smith, and Ajello

     Date Introduced: January 18, 2022

     Referred To: House read and passed

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

"Bill" Belisle, the beloved husband of the late Yvette Belisle for sixty-six years, and the father of

four sons, William, John, David, who joined him on the bench as Co-Coach in the later years, and

Peter Belisle; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Belisle was born in Providence, a son of the late Odias and Albertine

Belisle. He lived in Manville all of his life and was a 1948 graduate of Mount Saint Charles

Academy, where he was a Rhode Island Honor Society student, and played ice hockey, helping to

lead the Mounties to a state title in 1947. He was also a Korean War veteran who served our

nation with honor and distinction in the United States Army; and

     WHEREAS, After returning home from the Korean War, Mr. Belisle worked for many

years as the head truck mechanic at Mack Construction. He also served his community as a

volunteer firefighter for more than twenty years and established the Manville Farm League for

youth baseball in 1968; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Belisle later took a position with Mount Saint Charles Academy as the

Rink Manager of Brother Adelard Arena and only one year later, he assumed the position as Head

Coach of the Mounties Ice Hockey Team, a position he would hold until his retirement in 2019.

In that span of time, Coach Belisle would re-write the record books and set a standard of

excellence few coaches in the history of athletic competition can match; and

     WHEREAS, The list of Coach Belisle’s accomplishments are endless and extraordinary.

Under his leadership and guidance, the Mounties won 32 State Titles, including 26 in a row from

1978 to 2003. Coach Belisle won more than 1000 games during his 44 seasons as Head Coach,

including an incredible 94 game winning streak from 1977 to 1982; and

     WHEREAS, Coach Belisle succeeded because he demanded excellence at all times from

both himself and his players. He coached his players like a drill instructor and thanks to him, his

players found strengths within themselves they didn’t know they had. He wasn’t just coaching his

players in preparation for the next game or the upcoming season, he was coaching and preparing

them for success in life; and

     WHEREAS, Coach Belisle produced more than twenty players who would go on to play

in the National Hockey League, including Brian Lawton, who in 1983 became the first American

selected first in the National Hockey League Entry draft, and Bryan Berard, who was selected

first in the 1995 National Hockey League Entry Draft; and

     WHEREAS, Coach Belisle received many awards, honors and accolades in honor and

recognition of his storied coaching career including inductions into the U.S. Hockey Hall of

Fame, Mount Saint Charles Academy Athletic Hall of Fame and the National Federation of State

High School Associations Hall of Fame; and

     WHEREAS, Words of praise in honor of Bill Belisle have been made from many people,

but perhaps Mount Saint Charles Academy President Alan Tenreiro said it best, "I remember Bill

from my time as a student, then as a teacher and coach, and again when I returned to Mount as

President. He was always there as a guide and was an exceptional mentor to students and staff

and to family and friends"; and

     WHEREAS, In addition to his sons William, John, Dave and Peter, Mr. Belisle leaves

behind his grandchildren, Victoria, Rebecca, Casey, Brendan, Brian, James, John, Madeleine,

Norah and Halle, and several nieces and nephews. He was the grandfather of the late Daniel

Belisle, father-in-law of the late Nancy Belisle, and brother of the late Fernande Magson; now,

therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

expresses its deepest condolences to the Belisle Family on the passing of Norman Bernard

Belisle; 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 William Belisle, John Belisle, Dave Belisle and

Peter Belisle.

========

LC004020

========

LC004020 - Page 2 of 2