2013 -- H 5446

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LC01522

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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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

THE HONORABLE RICHARD H. "POP" JOHNSON

     Introduced By: Representatives Shekarchi, Naughton, Mattiello, Fox, and Kennedy

     Date Introduced: February 13, 2013

     Referred To: House read and passed

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

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Honorable Richard H. "Pop" Johnson, a man whose life and achievements will live on for many

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years to come in the memories of everyone fortunate enough to have been touched by the quality

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of this remarkable gentleman; and

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     WHEREAS, Richard was the son of the late Henry E. and Catherine (Lynch) Johnson.

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He was the devoted husband of Jean L. (Auckerman) and leaves behind four daughters, Kathleen

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V. Zabbo, Susan J. LeComte, and her husband, Richard, Mary C. Johnson, and Alice V. Johnson,

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and one son, Philip H. Johnson, and his wife, Wendy, a brother, Robert J. Johnson, and sister,

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Carol Iannuzzi. He was the proud grandfather to seven grandchildren and five great

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grandchildren. He was the father of the late James V. Johnson and father-in-law of the late Dr.

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August Zabbo; and

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     WHEREAS, "Pop" graduated from LaSalle Academy, Class of 1949, where he was All-

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State, All-New England National School Boy Champion in track and cross country and team

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captain. He was also a graduate of Providence College, Class of 1953, where he was a member of

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the track and cross country, team captain, class treasurer, and cross country honorable mention.

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He received his education degree from Rhode Island College; and

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     WHEREAS, Mr. Johnson served Rhode Island in many capacities. He was a member of

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the Rhode Island House of Representatives, where he represented District 34 for eight years, and

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as a councilman for the City of Warwick for a short time. Pop was President of the RI Track and

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Field Association, and was elected to the Track Coaches Hall of Fame and Warwick Veterans

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Memorial High School Coaches Hall of Fame. A communicant of St. Rita Church, he served as

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trustee and was a member of the Holy Name Society. Pop received the Jefferson Award, was

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director of the Warwick Summer Head Start Program, and founder and first president of JONAH,

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Inc; and

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     WHEREAS, Mr. Johnson, "Pop," was an educator at the Lockwood School for two years

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and also at Warwick Veterans Memorial High School for 32 years, where he served as a track

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coach before retiring in 1987; and

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

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

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his life; 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 expresses our deepest sympathies to the entire Johnson Family on

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the passing of the Honorable Richard H. "Pop" Johnson; and be it further

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

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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mrs. Jean Johnson.

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