2015 -- H 5968

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LC002256

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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 OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHIES AND CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING

OF JOHN P. O'CONNOR, ESQ.

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Mattiello, DeSimone, Edwards, Marshall, and Kazarian

     Date Introduced: March 24, 2015

     Referred To: House read and passed

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     WHEREAS, It is with deep sadness and profound sympathy that this House has learned

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of the passing of John P. O'Connor, Esq., the highly respected Director of Legislative Council for

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more than twenty-one years, serving under the leadership of four Speakers of the House, and one

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Lieutenant Governor and three Senate Presidents; and

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     WHEREAS, John O'Connor is survived by his lovely wife, Elizabeth, and his sons, Sean

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and Bréndan. He was also the very proud grandfather of Grace and Quinn; and

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     WHEREAS, John graduated from LaSalle Academy and earned his Bachelor's degree in

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Business Management with a minor in Economics and Accounting from Bryant College, and in

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November of 1970, began working as a Financial Specialist in the Retirement System Office for

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the City of Providence; and

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     WHEREAS, In April of 1974, the citizens of the Ocean State became the beneficiaries of

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John's keen intellect and abiding dedication to excellence when he began state service as a

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Property Manager. While working in that capacity, he returned to school earning his Juris

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Doctorate Degree from the New England School of Law; and

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     WHEREAS, After passing the bar, John joined the Public Defenders Office for the State

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of Rhode Island, a position he held until 1984, when he decided to go into private practice. Over

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the next eight years, he maintained a flourishing law office, where his expertise in criminal

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defense was highly sought, and earned him a solid reputation as a skillful and fearsome attorney;

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and

 

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     WHEREAS, On December 2nd of 1993, John returned to state service when he was

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named the Director of Legislative Council for the General Assembly, a position he held for more

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than two decades; and

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     WHEREAS, As Director of Legislative Council, John shouldered the responsibility for

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the drafting and preparation of the General Assembly's complex legislation, an often Herculean

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task, requiring long hours, an immense aptitude, and the ability to juggle a myriad of issues on

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any given day; and

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     WHEREAS, In addition, John oversaw the staff of Legislative Council. He was a strong

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leader, who encouraged a team approach, often discussing numerous points of view on any given

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legislation before proceeding, and he became a mentor to many of Council's lawyers who gained

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invaluable experience under his tutelage. John also understood the need for expediency, yet he

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would whole-heartedly listen to and stand up for his staff; and

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     WHEREAS, John O'Connor was a legal luminary who possessed a brilliant mind and a

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determined spirit. His no-nonsense approach to leadership combined with his tireless devotion to

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the citizens of the Ocean State earned him the unqualified admiration and respect of all who knew

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him and were invaluable to the efficiency of the entire legislative process. Memories of this

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remarkable man and his devoted service to the Rhode Island General Assembly and the citizens

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of the Ocean State will long be memorialized, and he will be sorely missed; now, therefore 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 heartfelt condolences on the passing of John P.

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O'Connor, Esq.; 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 a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mrs. Elizabeth O'Connor and Family.

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LC002256

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