2012 -- S 2346

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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 SINCERE CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF DEAN C. KELCHNER

     Introduced By: Senators DiPalma, and Felag

     Date Introduced: February 07, 2012

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

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     WHEREAS, It was with great sadness that this Senate learned of the passing of Dean C.

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Kelchner, a kind and gentle soul, who was a wonderful husband, a loving father, and a loyal

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friend, and whose determination in the face of adversity was inspirational; and

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     WHEREAS, Born on March 11th of 1952, in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, Dean was the

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son of Dorothy Kelchner-Hart and the late Donald Kelchner.  He was a graduate of Lycoming

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College in Pennsylvania, and had done his graduate work at the University of Rhode Island and

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the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth; and

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     WHEREAS, In 1984, Dean took a position as a Senior Software Engineer for Raytheon

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Company in Portsmouth.  He had been previously employed at RCA in New Jersey and had also

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worked as a lithographer for his father at the former K&V Lithographer Co. in Gloucester, New

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Jersey; and

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     WHEREAS, Dean met and married his wife of twenty years, Deborah, and together they

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raised their two children, David and Megan, making their home in the Town of Tiverton.  Dean is

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also survived by his mother, Dorothy, his brother and sister, Donn and Diane, and a panoply of

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nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and one great-great niece; and

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     WHEREAS, More than ten years ago, Dean was diagnosed with Mantle Cell Lymphoma

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and issued a bleak prognosis, but with the incredible strength of his wife, the love of his children,

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the prayers and support of his church, and the occasional timeout with his friends, Dean outlived

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all predictions and made the most of his life during the next decade; and

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     WHEREAS, During his all too short a time on this earth, Dean left an imprint on the lives

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and in the hearts of so many people.  His accomplishments were varied and extraordinary, just as

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he was, and included being an Eagle Scout, an accomplished trumpeter, and an enthusiastic

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golfer.  He loved the thrill of riding roller coasters, the camaraderie of miniature golf, the

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competition of shooting pool, and the challenges of being a computer hobbyist.  He was also the

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co-founder and a member of the Narragansett Bay Brass Ensemble and the Rhode Island Wind

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Ensemble; and

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     WHEREAS, One can not bear witness to the incredible courage of those who have

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cancer, without being deeply affected.  Dean never took life for granted and lived each day with

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thanks for the wondrous gifts that it brought.  He will be truly missed and always remembered by

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everyone fortunate enough to be part of his remarkable life; 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 sympathies on the passing of Dean Kelchner; 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 Deborah Kelchner and Family.

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