2008 -- S 2149

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LC01146

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2008

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S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N

EXTENDING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF STATE SENATOR ROGER R.

BADEAU

     Introduced By: Senators Ruggerio, J Montalbano, Paiva-Weed, McBurney, and Cote

     Date Introduced: January 30, 2008

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

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     WHEREAS, It is with profound sadness that this Senate has learned of the passing of our

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friend and colleague, the Honorable Roger R. Badeau, a lifelong resident of the City of

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Woonsocket, a wonderful and devoted family man, and an enormously well respected member of

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the Rhode Island State Senate; and

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      WHEREAS, Born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, Roger Badeau was the son of the late

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Henri and Florence Badeau, the beloved husband of Lucille Badeau for forty-nine years, a

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devoted father and so very proud of his son Marc and daughter Renee, and a doting grandfather,

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who loved spending time, and often talked about his beautiful grandchildren Adam, Brooke,

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Alexandria and Robert. He was also a loving brother to Laurent Badeau, Constance Gentilli,

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Vivian Cadieux and Monique Auger; and

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     WHEREAS, After completing his early educational years at Sacred Heart High School,

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Senator Badeau took courses in engineering and business at Johnston & Wales University, the

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University of Rhode Island and Roger Williams College. He had been employed for thirty years

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as a technical specialist in engineering before retiring from the Hoechst Celanese Corporation;

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and

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     WHEREAS, First elected to the Rhode Island State Senate in 1984, Senator Badeau

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represented the people of Woonsocket and Cumberland in District 20 for twenty-three years. He

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had served as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor since 1992, a responsibility that he

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not only enjoyed, but one that he was exceptionally qualified to assume. He ran his committee

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meetings expeditiously but openly, and oftentimes entertainingly. “Brevity” may have been his

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watchword, but it was always tempered with a strong measure of respect and a splash of humor;

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and

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     WHEREAS, A man of perpetual motion, Senator Badeau was also a member of the

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Senate Housing and Municipal Government Committee and had served as Deputy Majority

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Leader, a member of the Corporations Committee, the Worker’s Compensation Advisory Council

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and the Joint Committee on Small Business; and

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     WHEREAS, A truly valued and hardworking member of the Rhode Island Senate,

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Senator Badeau was unfailingly generous to his family and friends, filled with compassion for the

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issues he tackled and people who relied upon him, and always and forever, a man of his word;

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and

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      WHEREAS, Senator Badeau consistently demonstrated an abiding talent for bringing

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business and labor together. Fortunately for the Ocean State, the Senator had missed his calling

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as a “mediator” because his skills helped to forge landmark legislation in the area of workers

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compensation reform in the early 1990’s, and successfully pushed legislation enabling Rhode

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Islanders to access less expensive Canadian pharmaceuticals, bills that have benefited countless

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Rhode Islanders. He also helped to repeal one of Rhode Island’s last blue laws, making way for

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liquor stores to open for business on Sundays; and

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      WHEREAS, Earning the unqualified admiration and respect of all of who were

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privileged enough to work with him, Senator Badeau was a strong advocate for the communities

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he represented. He was always accessible to his constituents, and worked tirelessly to secure

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state aid and legislation beneficial to his district. He is an impossible act to follow, and has left a

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legacy too brilliant to fade; and

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     WHEREAS, Senator Badeau was a member of a panoply of civic activities and local

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organizations which contribute their time and efforts to making Rhode Island a better place to live

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including: Board Director for the Woonsocket Hydro Energy Commission, a member of the St.

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Joseph Veterans Association and St. Joseph’s Parish Council, the Italian Workingmen’s Club,

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Circle Laurier, Club Par-X, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge 850, and the

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Woonsocket Rotary Club; and

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     WHEREAS, Senator Badeau’s untimely passing is not only an immense loss to his

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family, friends, and colleagues at the State House, but to the entire state. He was a man of honor

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courage and integrity, who will be sorely missed and warmly remembered; 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 offers its sincere condolences to the family and legions of admirers of The Honorable

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Roger R. Badeau. He was a remarkable gentleman whose life was filled with hard work, a

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magnanimous spirit and omnipresent good humor. He truly represented all that is best in this

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State; 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 Lucille Badeau and Family.

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LC01146

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