2007 -- S 0941

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LC02969

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2007

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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 JOHN R. DREXEL, III

     Introduced By: Senators Paiva-Weed, and Gibbs

     Date Introduced: April 25, 2007

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

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     WHEREAS, John R. Drexel, III was born on October 6, 1919, son of the late Elizabeth

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Thompson and John R. Drexel, Jr. He was the great-great-great grandson of Francis Martin

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Drexel, founder of the banking house Drexel & Company established in 1837, and the great-great

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grandson of Anthony J. Drexel, founder of Drexel University in Philadelphia, and partner of

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noted financier J.P. Morgan; and

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     WHEREAS, Mr. Drexel graduated from Harvard College in 1942, and devoted his life to

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managing his family's finances and directing their philanthropic activities. John and his wife

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Noreen were passionate supporters of local hospitals, the American Red Cross, and a local animal

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shelter. For many years, Mr. Drexel served as a board member of Good Samaritan Hospital, now

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known as the Good Samaritan Medical Center; and

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     WHEREAS, Mr. Drexel and his wife Noreen were lifelong supporters of the American

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Red Cross. They served as Honorary Chairman and Honorary Chairwoman of the International

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Red Cross Ball for decades; and

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     WHEREAS, Mr. Drexel was an accomplished yachtsman, an avid follower of the

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America's Cup, and a member of the New York Yacht Club in both New York and Newport. In

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addition, he held memberships in numerous other clubs and associations such as the Everglades

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and Bath & Tennis Clubs, the Clambake Club, the Spouting Rock Beach Association and the

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Reading Room in Newport, the Jupiter Island Club in Hobe Sound, and was a board member of

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the Knickerbocker, Union, and River Clubs in New York; and

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     WHEREAS, A devoutly religious man, Mr. Drexel served on the board of the Priory of

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St. John of Jerusalem in New York City and on the vestries of the Church of the Resurrection in

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New York, St. John's Church in Newport, and the Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea in

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Palm Beach; now, 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 deepest condolences on the passing of John R. Drexel, III to his wife Noreen,

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children Pamela Drexel, John R. Drexel, IV, Noreen Drexel O'Farrell, his seven grandsons and

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three great-grandchildren; and be it further

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

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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mrs. Noreen Drexel.

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LC02969

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