2012 -- S 2177

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LC00702

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

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

EXPRESSING OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF ROBERT J.

MCKENNA

     Introduced By: Senators Paiva Weed, Sosnowski, Tassoni, Lanzi, and Gallo

     Date Introduced: January 19, 2012

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

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     WHEREAS, It is with great sadness that this Senate has learned of the passing of The

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Honorable Robert J. McKenna, a former State Representative, State Senator, and Mayor of the

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City of Newport; and

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     WHEREAS, The son of the late James C. and Margaret (Gorman) McKenna, Bob was

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the beloved husband of Mary Jean McKenna, the loving father of Kelly, Margaret Enkler and her

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husband, Peter, Mark McKenna, Raymond McKenna and his wife, Diane, Elizabeth McKenna,

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Paul McKenna and his wife, Nancy, and Patricia MacDonald and her husband, Kevin. Robert was

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the proud grandfather of Erika and Tristan Enkler, Sean McKenna, Julia, Ryan, Kaitlin, and

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Joshua McKenna, Emily and Phoebe MacDonald, and Kyle and Brandan McKenna.

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     WHEREAS, After attending parochial schools in Providence and graduating from Brown

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University, Bob entered the U.S. Army and served his country with honor and integrity,

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becoming a Russian Linguist at the Army Language School in Monterey, California; and

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     WHEREAS, Bob continued his service by entering politics and working tirelessly for the

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people of Newport and the State of Rhode Island. He served as a State Representative from 1969

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to 1973 and as a State Senator from 1974 to 1985, then as the Mayor of Newport from 1988 to

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1994; and

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     WHEREAS, Bob demonstrated a profound concern for education that went well beyond

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his duties as a professor of politics, director of community relations, and assistant to the President

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at Salve Regina. Bob supported education and collaboration among all colleges and universities

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in the state as a member of the Rhode Island Board of Governors, as a member and chair of the

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Rhode Island Higher Education Assistance Authority and the Rhode Island Student Loan

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Authority, as the President of the Rhode Island Independent Higher Education Association, and

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chair of the New England Board of Higher Education; and

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     WHEREAS, An indefatigable civic booster who worked hard to better his community,

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Bob belonged to many local and statewide organizations, most notably the Right to Life

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Committee, the Ancient Order of the Hibernians, the Irish Heritage Association, the Newport

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Democratic City Committee, and many more; and

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     WHEREAS, Even though we are diminished by this loss and mourn the passing of Bob,

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so must we celebrate the spirit, generosity, and courage with which he lived every day of his life;

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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 our deepest condolences on the passing of The Honorable Robert J. McKenna;

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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 Mary Jean McKenna.

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LC00702

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