2011 -- H 5418

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LC01418

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2011

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

EXPRESSING OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF JOHN J. TOPPA,

JR., AND RECOGNIZING HIS EXTRAORDINARY LIFE AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE

RHODE ISLAND FOOTBALL COMMUNITY

     Introduced By: Representatives Martin, Jackson, Fellela, Ajello, and JP O`Neill

     Date Introduced: February 16, 2011

     Referred To: House read and passed

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     WHEREAS, It is with great sadness and regret that we have learned of the passing of

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John J. Toppa, Jr., husband, father, grandfather, leader, teacher, coach, mentor and athlete; and

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     WHEREAS, John had a profound effect on the lives of many young men. His

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enthusiasm, spirit, integrity, and pursuit of excellence influenced thousands; and

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     WHEREAS, John was a tremendous athlete in his own right, having played football,

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basketball and baseball at De La Salle Academy, where he served as captain of the football and

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baseball teams. He then earned a football scholarship to Boston College, captaining that team in

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1952; and

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     WHEREAS, John served the community of Newport in a variety of capacities, including

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42 years as football coach and teacher, and as Athletic Director for 25 years; and

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     WHEREAS, John coached the Rogers High School football team to 266 victories in his

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37 years of football coaching, winning 11 state championships and 18 divisional crowns; and

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     WHEREAS, from 1985-90, the Vikings played in six consecutive Division I Super Bowls

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and won five. When John retired after the 1990 championship season, his teams had a three-year

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undefeated string, despite the fact that, as some people thought, Rogers was not a large school.

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For most years during the ’70s and ’80s, Rogers was the smallest public school in the Division I

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ranks; and

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     WHEREAS, John has been recognized by many organizations, including being honored

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as the Words Unlimited Rhode Island Football Coach of the Year, in 1974, 1978, and 1988; and

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     WHEREAS, John has been inducted into several Halls of Fame, including The National

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Italian/American Sports Hall of Fame, The Providence Gridiron Club Hall of Fame, Rhode Island

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Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame, The Rhode Island Chapter of The National Football

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Foundation and College Hall of Fame, Rhode Island Interscholastic League Hall of Fame, Rhode

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Island Scholar-Athlete Hall of Fame, City of Newport Sports Hall of Fame, and Rogers High

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School Athletic Hall of Fame; and

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     WHEREAS, John was recognized as Athletic Director of the Year in 1978 by the

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National Council of Secondary Schools; and

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     WHEREAS, John served as President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer of the

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Rhode Island Coaches Association. He was also a member of the Executive Board and was on the

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Executive Board of the Rhode Island Interscholastic Injury Fund; and

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     WHEREAS, John is survived by his children, Meg Toppa, Mike Toppa, and his wife,

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Libby, and John F. Toppa and his wife, Kendra. He was the grandfather of Natalie and Luke

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Moravek, Holley, Alie, and Liza Toppa, and John and Tatum Toppa. He also leaves his long time

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companion, Carol Lynch, with whom he shared many years of happiness; now, therefore be it

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

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Providence Plantations hereby express our deepest condolences on the passing of John J. Toppa

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Jr.; 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 Meg Toppa, Michael Toppa, John F. Toppa,

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and Carol Lynch.

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LC01418

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