Introduced By: Senator Sosnowski
Date Introduced : June 9, 1998
WHEREAS, John and Mary Donnelly came to Block Island in the late spring of 1858 to fill the essential positions of Telephone Man and State Nurse, bringing with them a young and growing family for a few years stint, and
WHEREAS, Through the ensuing years, while John kept our new direct dial phones working, Mary, a young nurse-wife-mother struggled with the Town's efforts to secure permanent medical service, often being the sole licensed provider of medical care on Block Island, giving freely and generously of her time and abilities, along the way becoming a beloved and appreciated member of this special place and - thankfully - a homeowner, a sign of an intent to stay; and
WHEREAS, In 1973 the Town Council of the Town of New Shoreham paid tribute to this "Resident Angel" on the fifteenth anniversary of her arrival on the Island; and
WHEREAS, Following the loss of her husband, John, in 1974, a sorrow shared by the entire community, Mary remained in this place of which she had become such an integral part, raising her own large and largely young family while faithfully tending to the needs of the wider Island family; and
WHEREAS, Among her numerous duties Mary agreed in 1978 to serve as President of the Medical Services Committee and to be an incorporator of Block Island Health Services, and lobbied strong and hard for a new building; and
WHEREAS, Mary's dedication was cited in 1988, when in recognition of thirty years of service the Board of Directors of Health Services and Town Council resolved a portion of the Medical Services Building be named the Mary Donnelly Wing; and
WHEREAS, Her service has extended far beyond the call of duty and obligation, most visibly in the administration, always with compassion and discretion, of the Mary D Fund, a fund established for the benefit of the people of Block Island and named in her honor; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Donnelly, Nurse 2, our Resident Angel Mary D has served in ways too broad and too many to recount in a single evening, many about which we know in only the broadest terms, the countless, private measures which are so important to those in need; now therefore be it
RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations formally recognizes the forty years of service Mary Donnelly, R.N. has provided, always with humor and steadfastness and the truest Christian love, and on behalf of the residents of Block Island and the visitors thereto this Senate expresses thanks and gratitude, and proclaims June 1, 1998 Mary Donnelly Day in the State of Rhode Island; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he is hereby authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mary Donnelly.
