2019 -- S 0954

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LC002744

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF ROBERT ROSE, FORMER POLICE

CHIEF OF BLOCK ISLAND

     

     Introduced By: Senator V. Susan Sosnowski

     Date Introduced: June 05, 2019

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

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     WHEREAS, Mr. Robert "Bobby" Rose, a beloved fixture within the Block Island

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community and the former Police Chief of Block Island, passed away on May 17, 2019. He was

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the loving husband of Judith Bonanno Rose; and

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     WHEREAS, Mr. Rose was born on October 28, 1940, a son of the late Cornelius and

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Marion Rose. He was a life-long Block Island resident and was a descendent of Tormut Rose, one

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of the original 1661 settlers of Block Island. He had been raised on a farm, which instilled into

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him a tireless work ethic, a trait for which he was known for his entire life; and

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     WHEREAS, Mr. Rose graduated from Block Island School in 1959, and shortly

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thereafter began working for the Block Island Power Company. In 1962, he joined the United

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States Air Force and served our nation with honor and integrity. He rose to the rank of Sergeant,

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was awarded the Airman of the Month Award, and served as the head of the liquid oxygen

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missile support plant on Johnston Atoll in the Pacific during the Vietnam War; and

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     WHEREAS, After leaving military service and receiving his Honorable Discharge, Mr.

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Rose married the love of his life, his wife Judith, and together they raised a family. From 1967 to

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1970, he served as the Police Chief of Block Island where he was, at age 27, the youngest Police

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Chief in the State of Rhode Island. In recognition of his exemplary service as Police Chief, he

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earned the much loved moniker of "Chief", an honorary term by which he was known for the rest

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of his life; and

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     WHEREAS, Mr. Rose was also an avid and talented home builder. In 1972, he

 

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established "Rose Enterprises" and through the years, he designed and built more than 100

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custom homes. Additionally, he constructed numerous important commercial buildings including

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The Island Free Library, the Block Island Medical Center, Ballard’s Inn, The Overlook, The Rose

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Farm Inn, and Payne’s Harbor View Inn; and

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     WHEREAS, Mr. Rose and his wife developed their family farm into the present-day

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Rose Farm Inn, where they preserved the rolling hills of the farm as open space for everyone in

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the community to enjoy. Throughout his entire life, Mr. Rose was dedicated and devoted to his

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beloved community of Block Island and would do anything necessary to protect and nurture its

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natural wonders and to help those living there to be safe and to prosper; and

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     WHEREAS, In addition to his wife, Mr. Rose leaves behind his three children, Robert

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Rose, Jamie Rose and her husband, Peter Helstrom, and William Rose and his wife, Lisa, and

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their three children, Justin, Chad and Cassie. He also leaves behind his granddaughter, Brenna

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Rose, his brother, Lawrence Rose, and his sister, Janice Burke. He was predeceased by his infant

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daughter, Johanna, his infant brother, William, and Brandon Hetherington; and

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     WHEREAS, Mr. Rose will be long remembered for his service to our nation and the

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community of Block Island. He was a devoted family man and a caring friend, and his loss is

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grievous but he will live on forever in the hearts and minds of all who knew and loved him; now,

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therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

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hereby expresses its condolences to the Rose Family on the passing of Robert Rose; and be it

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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. Judith Bonanno Rose and Family.

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LC002744

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