2022 -- H 7004

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LC003509

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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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 THE HONORABLE

DENNIS J. ROBERTS, II

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Amore, Newberry, Kennedy,
Filippi, Knight, Fellela, P Morgan, and Fogarty

     Date Introduced: January 06, 2022

     Referred To: House read and passed

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

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former Rhode Island Attorney General Dennis J. Roberts, II, the beloved husband of Sherry

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Roberts; and

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     WHEREAS, Mr. Roberts was born in Providence in 1941, the son of Thomas and

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Florence Roberts. He came from a family devoted to public service, the law, and good

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government. His father was a distinguished jurist who served on the Rhode Island Superior Court

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and was later appointed the Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court from 1966 to 1976.

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His mother was a teacher at the Henry Barnard School and his uncle, Dennis J. Roberts was

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Mayor of Providence from 1941 to 1951, and Governor of Rhode Island from 1951 to 1959; and

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     WHEREAS, Mr. Roberts graduated from Fordham University in 1963, and attained a law

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degree from the Boston College Law School in 1966. Upon graduating from law school, he

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embarked on a career that made a significant mark on the legal, political and public service

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landscapes of Rhode Island. He served with distinction and integrity as the Attorney General of

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Rhode Island from 1979 to 1985, and for more than fifty years as a lawyer in private practice; and

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     WHEREAS, As a practicing attorney, Mr. Roberts was a member of the Rhode Island

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and New York Bars, the United States Court of Appeals and the United States District Court. He

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had a diverse practice and represented numerous famous clients including the National Football

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League, Proctor & Gamble, and Microsoft. He was also proud to represent many average Rhode

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Islanders and worked tirelessly to ensure that their rights were protected in the courthouse; and

 

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     WHEREAS, Mr. Roberts was a firm believer in the need and rights of everyone to have

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access to quality healthcare. He played a vital and instrumental role in the establishment of the

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Rhode Island Group Health Association, the State’s first and largest HMO. In his practice, he

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represented the Rhode Island State Nurses Association and the Rhode Island Association of

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Nurse Anesthetists; and

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     WHEREAS, Mr. Roberts was also an advocate of consumer rights. He served for twelve

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years as the attorney for the Rhode Island Consumers Council, and appeared frequently before the

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Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission to oppose or moderate intended rate increases for

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electricity and natural gas suppliers; and

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     WHEREAS, Thanks to Mr. Roberts support and strong belief in gender equality,

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numerous women served in high positions within his administration as Attorney General, many of

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whom went on to have distinguished careers within the Rhode Island Judiciary. In recognition of

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his support for women’s equality, Mr. Roberts received the 2018 Florence K. Murray Award

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from the Rhode Island Bar Association; and

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     WHEREAS, In addition to his wife Sherry, Mr. Roberts leaves behind his daughter, Jane

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Roberts, his grandchildren, Liam, Shannon and Cian, and his brother, Tom Roberts. He was

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predeceased by his son, Thomas H. Roberts II; now, therefore be it

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

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expresses its deepest condolences to the Roberts Family on the passing of the Honorable Dennis

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J. Roberts, II and honors his legacy of devoted and distinguished service to our State; 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. Sherry Roberts.

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LC003509

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