2022 -- S 2002 | |
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LC003517 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022 | |
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S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N | |
EXTENDING DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF THE HONORABLE | |
RAYMOND J. SULLIVAN, JR. | |
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Introduced By: Senators Euer, Raptakis, Miller, Lawson, and Pearson | |
Date Introduced: January 03, 2022 | |
Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar | |
1 | WHEREAS, It is with deep sadness that this Senate has learned of the untimely passing |
2 | of the Honorable Raymond J. Sullivan, Jr., a former valued member of the Rhode Island House of |
3 | Representatives, a dedicated advocate for myriad social justice issues, and a highly-respected |
4 | political strategist; and |
5 | WHEREAS, Ray Sullivan, affectionately known as "R.J." by his family and friends, was |
6 | the son of Maureen and Raymond Sullivan, Sr. He graduated from Bishop Hendricken High |
7 | School and attended Providence College, which resulted in a lifelong devotion to PC Friars |
8 | Basketball, as well as a love for coaching basketball, which he did for many years with the |
9 | Coventry Basketball Association, the Coventry Wildcats later known as the RI Breakers, head |
10 | basketball coach for Fr. Doyle School in Coventry, and coaching and refereeing in the Providence |
11 | City Recreation League; and |
12 | WHEREAS, His faith and upbringing greatly influenced Ray's early altruistic endeavors. |
13 | He was dedicated to Our Lady of Czentochowa Parish for many years, serving as an altar boy for |
14 | several years. He was later active with the Beneficent Congregational Church and Sanctuary |
15 | Church Online, and was a member of Byron A. Northup Chapter of DeMolay, where he served as |
16 | Master Councilor of the Northup Chapter and State Master Councilor of Rhode Island DeMolay, |
17 | and earned the degrees of Chevalier and Legion of Honor; and |
18 | WHEREAS, On November 2, 2004, the Honorable Ray Sullivan was elected to the |
19 | Rhode Island House of Representatives, representing his constituency in District 29, which |
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1 | encompasses neighborhoods in the Towns of Coventry and West Greenwich. He served for three |
2 | terms from 2005 to 2011; and |
3 | WHEREAS, During his tenure in the House, Ray was highly respected and valued by his |
4 | peers. He served as Deputy Majority Leader, Vice Chair of the House Committee on Rules, and |
5 | as a member of the House Committees on Environment and Natural Resources, Judiciary, |
6 | Separation of Powers, and on the Joint Committee on Highway Safety; and |
7 | WHEREAS, Brilliant and perceptive, Ray had been employed in many political |
8 | capacities. In 2002, he became deeply involved in Myrth York's Gubernatorial Campaign. He |
9 | later served as State Director of the Obama campaign in 2008, Campaign Manager for US |
10 | Representative James R. Langevin in 2010, Director of legislative and government affairs for |
11 | former Lieutenant Governor Charles J. Fogarty, Executive Director of Marriage Equality Rhode |
12 | Island from 2011 to 2013, when the state passed legislation legalizing same-sex marriage, and |
13 | most recently at the Checkmate Consulting Group, for the last eight years; and |
14 | WHEREAS, Ray Sullivan gathered many friends and admirers during his lifetime who |
15 | affectionately described him as "big hearted and vivacious," a "fearless advocate for the LGBTQ |
16 | community" and a man who "had an unmatched sense of humor and never took himself too |
17 | seriously, but he took the work he did very seriously because he understood its impact on real |
18 | people." He devoted his life to the noble profession of public service and he will be deeply |
19 | missed; now, therefore be it |
20 | RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby extends deepest |
21 | condolences to the family of Raymond J. Sullivan, Jr.; and be it further |
22 | RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
23 | transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Maureen and Raymond Sullivan, Sr. |
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LC003517 | |
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