2022 -- H 7967

========

LC005491

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

____________

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF THE HONORABLE

KEVEN ALEXANDER MCKENNA

     Introduced By: Representatives J Lombardi, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Hull, Costantino,
Filippi, Kennedy, McGaw, Ackerman, and Shallcross Smith

     Date Introduced: March 10, 2022

     Referred To: House read and passed

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

Honorable Keven Alexander McKenna, a highly respected retired Providence Municipal Court

Judge and former Rhode Island State Representative. He was the beloved father of Sean

McKenna, Christopher McKenna and his wife, Maureen, Damian McKenna and his wife, Jessica,

Mary-Kathryn Aranda and her husband, Victor, and Joseph McKenna, and the very proud

grandfather of eleven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild; and

     WHEREAS, Born in the Town of Westerly, Mr. McKenna was the oldest son of the late

Eugene and Rita McKenna, and the brother of Marylen McKenna, Ward McKenna and his wife,

Mary Beth, Gregory McKenna and his wife, Maril, and Roberta Palmer and her husband, Bill. He

was a graduate of Westerly High School, and continued his education, earning his Bachelor's

degree from Georgetown University, an MPA degree from Syracuse University, and passed the

Foreign Service Officer Exam at Georgetown Law School; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. McKenna began his esteemed career in public service with his

appointment as the Special Assistant to the Secretary for Legislation under President Lyndon B.

Johnson's administration. He subsequently served as a legislative aide to U.S. Senator Claiborne

Pell, and as special counsel to Governor Philip W. Noel, and a Rhode Island Assistant Attorney

General; and

     WHEREAS, In November of 1978, Mr. McKenna was elected to the Rhode Island House

of Representatives, where he served his Providence and North Providence constituents in District

10 for three terms. During his tenure in the House he championed passage of state laws for

handicapped and disabled and the Rhode Island CHIPs insurance program. He also led the

Providence Reform Coalition during the 1980s; and

     WHEREAS, From 1984 through 1992, Mr. McKenna served as a Providence Municipal

Court Judge and from 1985 through 1986, he was President of the Rhode Island Constitutional

Convention; and

     WHEREAS, In addition, Mr. McKenna was active in his community and with myriad

professional and social organizations including being a member of the Knights of Columbus and

The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, a member of the American Judges Association, Volunteer

Counsel to Silverlake Senior Citizens, the Harvey Clements Senior Citizens, Summit Avenue

School group, Providence Taxpayers Association, a member of Common Cause, and as a member

of the R.I. Mental Health Association. He was also a parishioner of Blessed Sacrament Church in

Providence, and an avid sports fan cheering for Providence College, Georgetown basketball,

Boston Red Sox, Boston Celtics, and New England Patriots; and

     WHEREAS, Throughout his accomplished lifetime, the Honorable Keven McKenna was

a devoted family man, a respected jurist and lawyer, and "a tireless legal defender of all,

regardless of their financial or social status" and he will be dearly missed; now, therefore be it

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

extends deepest sympathy on the passing of the Honorable Keven Alexander McKenna; and be it

further

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

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Sean McKenna, Christopher McKenna, Damian

McKenna, Mary-Kathryn Aranda, and Joseph McKenna.

========

LC005491

========

LC005491 - Page 2 of 2