2015 -- H 5036

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LC000335

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF THE HONORABLE LILA M.

SAPINSLEY

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Regunberg, Newberry, Ajello, Blazejewski, and Tanzi

     Date Introduced: January 08, 2015

     Referred To: House read and passed

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

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passing of the Honorable Lila M. Sapinsley, beloved wife for sixty-nine years to the late John M.

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Sapinsley, and the devoted mother of four daughters, Patricia Sapinsley and her husband, Harold

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Levy, Joan Sapinsley and her husband, Richard Lewis, Jill Mooney and her husband, James, and

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Carol Rubenstein and her husband, Alan. She was also the loving grandmother to nine beautiful

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grandchildren and a well-respected former Rhode Island State Senator; and

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     WHEREAS, Ms. Sapinsley was a trail-blazer and champion for women's issues and open

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government. While serving as a Rhode Island State Senator, she became the first female to hold a

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leadership post after being chosen by her Republican peers to become the Senate Minority

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Leader; and

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     WHEREAS, In addition to her service to our state in the General Assembly, Ms.

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Sapinsley was a mentor and trusted advisor to decades of Rhode Island's leaders as well as

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generations of young women across the state. She served as the Public Utilities Commissioner,

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Chairwoman of the Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation, and was a

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constitutional convention delegate; and

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     WHEREAS, Throughout her lifetime, Ms. Sapinsley was an active and contributing

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member of the community, working with countless community organizations including Trinity

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Repertory Company, Butler Hospital, Providence Public Library, Rhode Island Board of Regents,

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Dorcas' Place, American Civil Liberties Union, Planned Parenthood of Rhode Island, and

 

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Wellesley College; and

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     WHEREAS, Ms. Sapinsley had also been active in her support for both education and the

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arts. She was an advocate and a force behind the creation of the Community College of Rhode

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Island and was one of Rhode Island College’s greatest supporters. She and her husband John

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endowed a theater at Rhode Island College, which is named the Lila and John Sapinsley Hall in

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their honor; and

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      WHEREAS, Still dedicated and vigorous at the age of ninety-two, Lila Sapinsley had not

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only earned the unqualified admiration and respect of those she worked with, but also their

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loyalty, love, and devotion. She was a woman of rare grace, gentility, strength, and immense

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wisdom who enriched the lives of all who knew her. She will be greatly missed; now, therefore

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be it

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

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Providence Plantations hereby expresses our deepest sympathies to the entire Sapinsley Family

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on the passing of the Honorable Lila M. Sapinsley; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Patricia Sapinsley and Family, Joan Sapinsley

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and Family, Jill Mooney and Family, and Carol Rubenstein and Family.

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