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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING JOHN STELLITANO ON BEING INDUCTED INTO THE AVIATION

HALL OF FAME AND CELEBRATING THE JOYOUS OCCASION OF HIS 100TH

BIRTHDAY

     Introduced By: Representatives Azzinaro, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Kennedy, Spears,
Vella-Wilkinson, Casey, Casimiro, Solomon, and Place

     Date Introduced: March 28, 2023

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, John Stellitano has led a long and glorious life filled with dedication,

amazing achievements, adventure, and joy; and

     WHEREAS, Born on March 28, 1923, at a time when radio had just begun to inform

everyday people on the world around them, and women had finally been given the right to vote,

both events that would change the political landscape of America, John Stellitano began what

would become a remarkable journey; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Stellitano was raised in the Town of Westerly, graduating from

Westerly High School where he exceled in athletics, lettering in football, where he earned All-

State honors, as well as basketball and baseball, and most importantly, where he met the love of

his life and future bride, Mary Capalbo; and

     WHEREAS, With the hope of continuing his education, Mr. Stellitano attended the

University of Rhode Island majoring in aeronautical engineering and playing freshman football.

A few short months later, in December of 1941, on the ignoble “Day of Infamy”, when Japan’s

attack on Pearl Harbor was aired across the country, John along with many young men across the

country, enlisted in the Air Corps; and

     WHEREAS, Since the age of 14, Mr. Stellitano had harbored an interest in flying and had

often been given the opportunity to fly with a friend of the family who owned a seaplane. In May

of 1944, he finally reached one of his many goals in life and in the military by earning his wings.

He was commissioned as a Flight Officer after two years of military training that encompassed

instruction at sites in five different states; and

     WHEREAS, Shortly thereafter, Mr. Stellitano returned home and against the worries of

their families, and in the midst of war while actively serving, he married Mary and the two

traveled to Florida for his B-17 training. Upon completion of the grueling weeks of bombing and

target navigation, John picked up his brand-new plane and was stationed at Deopham Green

Airbase in England, assigned to the 728th Bomb Squadron, 452 Bomb Group, and he and his

crew immediately began combat missions; and

     WHEREAS, During his time flying missions, Mr. Stellitano and crew were hit 6 out of

the 36 six times they flew, and on one fateful run, they had to fly blind, while losing altitude,

landing precariously on an open field at 114 miles an hour. Miraculously, there were no injuries

on board, and on the same day his first child, Sherron, was born; and

     WHEREAS, In April of 1945, after completing the required 36 missions, Mr. Stellitano

was discharged and happily returned home to Mary and his daughter. He soon entered URI,

attained his Bachelor’s degree in Education, and took employment as a teacher and coach at

Lockwood High School in Warwick; and

     WHEREAS, In 1949, Mr. Stellitano returned to his hometown of Westerly, where he

continued teaching and became a local legend in coaching both football and basketball earning

him and his teams many awards and the honor of April 30, 1965 being named “John Stellitano

Day” in Westerly; and

     WHEREAS, Throughout his decorated military career and renowned teaching and

coaching successes, John Stellitano has consistently held his family as his most cherished and

beloved accomplishment. He has been married to Mary for almost 79 years, and his beloved

children, Sherron, Steven, and Katheryn, and their spouses Robert, Kathryn, and Michael, have

blessed he and Mary with seven beautiful grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren; now,

therefore be it

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

congratulates John Stellitano on being inducted into the Aviation Hall of Fame and celebrating

the joyous occasion of his 100th Birthday; 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 Mr. John Stellitano.

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