2022 -- H 7263

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LC004402

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF THE HONORABLE

RODNEY D. DRIVER

     Introduced By: Representatives Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Kennedy, McNamara,
Azzinaro, Corvese, Serpa, Slater, Filippi, and Price

     Date Introduced: February 01, 2022

     Referred To: House read and passed

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

Honorable Rodney D. Driver, beloved husband of the late Carole Driver for sixty-five years, and

the loving father of David Driver and his wife, Joyce Yokoe, Karen Driver and her late former

husband, Mark Lussier, and Bruce Driver and his wife, Linda. He was also the very proud

grandfather of Jason Driver, Austin Driver, Kristin Lussier, Jenny Lussier, Sarah Driver and

Daniel Driver, and the great-grandfather of Addison Driver and Jonah Driver; and

     WHEREAS, Born in London, England, Rod Driver was the son of the late Marjorie and

William Driver, the brother of Vera Carlson and the late Walt Driver, and the uncle to many

nieces and nephews. After enduring the Battle of Britain and the Blitz, Mr. Driver's family

immigrated to the United States in 1945, settling in Minneapolis, Minnesota; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Driver attended the University of Minnesota where he earned both his

Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Electrical Engineering, as well as his PhD in Mathematics.

More importantly, while attending a "ladies choice" dance at the University, he met his future

wife, Carole, whom he married in 1955; and

     WHEREAS, Relocating to Rhode Island, Mr. Driver was a professor at the University of

Rhode Island from 1969 until his retirement in 1998. He was also an accomplished author of

three mathematics books and dozens of research papers, had lectured in Europe and across the

United States, and was a member of the American Mathematical Society and the Mathematical

Association of America; and

     WHEREAS, In addition to his passion for mathematics, Mr. Driver devoted much of his

life to foreign policy and human rights. He was a member of Amnesty International, the

American Friends Service Committee, SEARCH for Justice and Equality in Palestine/Israel, and

the Sierra Club; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Driver subsequently became more involved with politics, writing letters

to the editor at the beginning of the Vietnam War, and campaigning for other candidates. In the

1960s, before moving to Rhode Island, he had run for Congress as a Republican in New Mexico.

He was later elected as a delegate to the 1986 Rhode Island Constitutional Convention, and soon

after was elected to the Rhode Island House of Representatives serving from 1987 until 1995.

After serving in the General Assembly, he ran for Congress as an Independent, coming in a strong

2nd in a 3-way race, and in 2008, was reelected to the Rhode Island House, representing the 39th

District until 2010; and

     WHEREAS, For many decades, and particularly during his years in the House, Mr.

Driver had championed and advocated for numerous social justice and environmental issues

including, banning smoking in public places, recycling and reducing waste, working for human

rights in Palestine/Israel, and supporting a woman’s right to choose and LGBT rights, to name but

a few of the worthwhile causes he pursued; and

     WHEREAS, The Honorable Rod Driver "was known for his infectious and booming

laugh that could be heard from a mile away" and for being "always up for sharing a good joke

over endless bowls of ice cream." His decades of service to the people of Rhode Island was

laudable and heartfelt and he will be dearly missed; now, therefore be it

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

extends deepest condolences on the passing of the Honorable Rodney D. Driver; 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 David Driver and Family, Karen Driver and

Family, and Bruce Driver and Family.

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