2019 -- H 5262

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LC001177

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF MATTHEW A. LOPES,

SR.

     Introduced By: Representatives Williams, Amore, Hull, Lombardi, and Shekarchi

     Date Introduced: January 31, 2019

     Referred To: House read and passed

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

Matthew A. Lopes, Sr., devoted husband of Laura for fifty-seven years, and the beloved father of

Phyllis Conway and her husband, Michael, Philip Hazard and his wife, Julie, Matthew Lopes, Jr.,

Carol Gibson and her spouse, Peyton, and Laurie Lopes. He was also the very proud grandfather

of thirteen grandchildren and twenty-one great-grandchildren; and

     WHEREAS, Born in Warwick, Mr. Lopes, better known as "Matt" by his family and

friends, was a son of the late William and Antonia Lopes, and the dear brother of Domingo

Lopes, and the late John, Manuel, Joseph, Benjamin, Antonio, and Alexander Lopes, and Anna

Lopez. He attended Central High School and had graduated from the New England Institute of

Anatomy, Sanitary Science, and Embalming; and

     WHEREAS, Matt served with honor in the United States Army during World War II.

Upon returning, he coached the semi-professional basketball team, the Anthony Gomes Memorial

Athletic Club, and held an outstanding ten year record of only losing four games; and

     WHEREAS, An incredibly hard-working man, Matt had worked for more than twenty

years in the transportation industry, and once retired, happily served as the doorman for the

Rhode Island State Senate, followed by ten years as a driver and customer service representative

for Enterprise-Rent-a-Car; and

     WHEREAS, In addition, Matt devoted his time to the community by volunteering as a

track and field official for Brown University and the Rhode Island Interscholastic League for

twenty-five years, and had received numerous honors for his efforts on behalf of the Rhode Island

Track Association. He had also been honored with induction into the Fox Point Boys Club Hall of

Fame and was a volunteer on numerous political campaigns; and

     WHEREAS, Always an avid sports fan, Matt loved the New York Yankees and the New

England Patriots, especially their many championship seasons; and

     WHEREAS, Matt Lopes was a steadfast gentleman who left this world a far better place

because of his life’s endeavors. He enriched the lives of all who knew him and he will be dearly

missed; now, therefore be it

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

Providence Plantations hereby expresses our deepest sympathies to the entire Lopes Family on

the passing of Matthew A. Lopes, Sr.; 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 Laura Lopes and Family.

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