2024 -- H 7012

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LC003273

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF JOSEPH J. KIRBY

     Introduced By: Representatives Azzinaro, Kennedy, Shekarchi, Blazejewski,
Chippendale, Fellela, Tanzi, Shallcross Smith, Fogarty, and Ajello

     Date Introduced: January 04, 2024

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, It is with deep sadness that this House has learned of the passing of Joseph

J. Kirby, the beloved husband of Katherine Hoxsie; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Kirby was born in Woonsocket, son of the late Charles and Genevieve

Kirby. He was a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross and the New England College of Law.

After college, he served our nation with honor and distinction as a member of the United States

Army; and

     WHEREAS, After completing his military service obligations, Mr. Kirby went to work

for the Fiduciary Trust Company of Boston and later accepted a position with the Washington

Trust Company as an Investment Officer at which time he moved his family to Westerly; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Kirby worked for the Washington Trust Company for more than three

decades and thanks to his tireless work ethic, abiding integrity and stellar business acumen, he

steadily rose through the ranks, eventually serving as the Company's President, Chairman and

Chief Executive Officer. He played a significant role in the successful capital campaigns of the

Westerly Hospital, Westerly Library, the Ocean Community YMCA, the United Way and

Catholic Charities. He also chaired the campaigns for South County Community Action and the

YMCA 1993 campaign. He continued to serve the Washington Trust Company and the wider

community in retirement as a member of the bank, serving on its finance and executive

committees; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Kirby was always active in community and civic affairs and gave much

of his time in support of numerous charitable organizations. He served on the Westerly Hospital

Board of Trustees for 17 years, and was a board member of the Westerly Library, Wilcox Park,

Narragansett Electric and the New England Bankcard Association. In addition, he donated his

time and many talents in support of the Chorus for Westerly's Summer Pops Concert, and helped

to establish the Westerly Downtown Task Force. He was a member of the Rhode Island and

American Bankers' Associations, the Rhode Island Commodores and Westerly Yacht Club, and

true to his Irish roots, he was a long-time member and past President of the Friendly Sons of St.

Patrick; and

     WHEREAS, In his retirement, Mr. Kirby became a passionate golfer, taking many

golfing vacations and was a member of the Stonington Country Club. He was also a passionate

sports fan who diligently followed all of the Boston teams, and enjoyed swimming and was a

member of the Seaside Beach Club; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Kirby was a man of deep faith. He was a communicant of St. Pius X

Church and served numerous parish ministries and committees. He also coached the Church's

CYO Basketball team. Foremost in Mr. Kirby's life was always his family and he was, at all

times, a devoted and loving husband and father; and

     WHEREAS, In addition to his wife, Katherine, Mr. Kirby leaves behind his children,

Kathleen Kulig and her husband, Robert, Michael Kirby and his wife, Sharon, and Ann Kirby. He

also leaves behind his grandchildren, Kyle and Megan Kirby, and his wife Katherine's children,

Kenyon Murphy and his wife, Karen, and Katherine Gardner and her husband, Bryant. Mr. Kirby

was also the stepfather to Cole and Cooper Murphy and leaves behind several nieces and

nephews. He was predeceased by his first wife, Lillian Kirby, and his siblings, Charles and Paul

Kirby, and Anne Hope Kirby-Overmyer; now therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representative of the State of Rhode Island hereby

expresses its deepest condolences on the passing of Joseph J. Kirby; and be it further

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

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Katherine Hoxsie, Kathleen Kulig, Michael

Kirby, and Ann Kirby.

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LC003273

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