2023 -- H 6415

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

____________

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF THE HONORABLE BRYAN K.

WILSON

     Introduced By: Representatives Spears, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale, Ajello,
Felix, Shallcross Smith, Edwards, Casey, and Bennett

     Date Introduced: May 18, 2023

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, The Honorable Bryan K. Wilson was born in Summit, New Jersey, a son of

Donald Keith Wilson and Julia Ann Wilson, and the devoted husband of Amy Veldman-Wilson;

and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Wilson graduated from Summit High School and Princeton University,

where he studied architectural engineering and played on the volleyball team. After graduation,

he worked in construction on Block Island for a few years before moving with his family to

Oregon to attend the University of Oregon, where he studied architecture with a focus on

designing buildings that honor and respect a city’s history, heritage, culture and traditions.

However, Mr. Wilson’s love for Block Island never abated, and every summer while in graduate

school, he would return to Block Island to work construction, pick blackberries, and body surf;

and

     WHEREAS, After graduating from the University of Oregon with a Master’s degree in

architecture, he returned for good to Block Island and established his company, ZMA

Design/Build. He was a committed environmentalist and humanitarian who believed it was his

responsibility to make the world a better place in which to live for future generations; and

     WHEREAS, In addition to designing and building charming homes, Mr. Wilson devoted

much of his free time engaging in important civic activities. He was a well-respected member of

the New Shoreham Town Council, serving the community with tireless devotion and abiding

integrity. He also volunteered to serve on numerous boards and committees, including the Block

Island Fire and Rescue Squad, the North Light Commission, the Historic District Commission,

the Recreation Board, and the Block Island Wind Farm; and

     WHEREAS, In 2009, Mr. Wilson joined the Deepwater Wind team as the liaison for the

Block Island Wind Farm. He would later become the first offshore wind farmer in America, and

subsequently became the first offshore wind farm Manager in the United States. He was a lifelong

learner who had an endless interest and fascination with topics related to geology, oceanography,

the fishing industry, and Block Island’s ecosystem; and

     WHEREAS, In his spare time, Mr. Wilson enjoyed travelling, and helped to created

many wonderful family memories of vacations in Mexico, Belize, Italy, the Netherlands and

many other places across the globe. He also loved music and his eclectic tastes ranged from

Moby and Pink Floyd to Black Sabbath and the Black Eyed Peas. Of course, his first love in life

besides his family was all things related to Block Island, particularly the Island’s wonderful

nature; and

     WHEREAS, In addition to his wife, Amy Veldman-Wilson, he was the devoted father of

Zacharia, Aisha, Mikayla, Maya, Ezekiel and Amira, the honorary father of Joee, John, and Chris,

and the doting grandfather of Sydnee, Ryker, and Rowan Bryan. He also leaves behind his

siblings Suzanne, Gwyneth, Jean, Katie, Sean and Andrew; now, therefore be it

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

expresses its condolences on the passing of the Honorable Bryan K. Wilson; 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 Amy Veldman-Wilson and Family.

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