2023 -- H 6438

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LC003067

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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

EXPRESSING DEEPEST SYMPATHY ON THE PASSING OF ANNA FRIEDMAN PRAGER,

HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR AND CIVIC LEADER

     Introduced By: Representatives McEntee, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale, Knight,
Kislak, Ackerman, Finkelman, Caldwell, and Craven

     Date Introduced: May 25, 2023

     Referred To: House read and passed

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

Friedman Prager, the beloved wife of Jan Prager for 64 years, and the cherished mother of two

children; and

     WHEREAS, Anna Friedman Prager was born as Chana Sima Frydman on January 6,

1936, in Chmielnik, Poland, a daughter of Temma and Jack Friedman, and the sister of

Rosemary; and

     WHEREAS, As a young child in 1939, Mrs. Prager and her family were expelled from

their home in Poland and sent to a forced labor camp in Siberia. The family miraculously

survived and in 1943, were released and migrated to Samarkand. A few years later, they

immigrated illegally to Sweden, where they stayed until 1949, and ultimately came to the United

States in the 1960s, and made their home in South County; and

     WHEREAS, Anna Prager had a childhood that would have left many people defeated,

but quite to the contrary, her friends said she was a force, and her son recalls his memories of her

as "a woman on the go" and an "inspiration"; and

     WHEREAS, Over the years, Mrs. Prager served our State in myriad capacities. She was a

high school chemistry teacher for many years, was the former Board Chairperson of the Rhode

Island Public Transit Authority, served as the South Kingstown Town Planner for more than a

decade, was a member of the Town Council, and held policy positions in the Governor’s office;

and

     WHEREAS, In addition, Mrs. Prager was named the head of the Board of Directors for

the Washington County Regional Planning Council which was created in 2005, formerly named

the Washington County Community Development Corp. The Council was tasked with creating

low- and moderate-income housing in South County; and

     WHEREAS, Also active with many altruistic community organizations, Mrs. Prager was

on the Board of Save the Bay and had received "The Outstanding American by Choice Award", a

Federal award presented to naturalized US citizens who achieved extraordinary things in their

lives. She was also the author of "I Remember" an unforgettable and poignant collection of her

memories from the Holocaust; and

     WHEREAS, With all her many accomplishments, Mrs. Prager was proudest and happiest

when surrounded by her children, and the "grands" and "greats-grands" as she called them,

including her grandchildren, her great-grandchildren, and her nieces and nephews, and grand

nieces and nephews, whom she adored; and

     WHEREAS, Anna Friedman Prager was a woman of substance, a woman with deep

strength and noble character, and she will be dearly missed by all who had the good fortune to be

a part of her remarkable life; now, therefore be it

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

extends deepest condolences to the family and friends of Anna Friedman Prager. May her

memory be a blessing; 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 Jan Prager and Family.

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