2024 -- H 7135

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LC004049

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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

EXTENDING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF ALAN SUMNER FLINK

     Introduced By: Representatives Blazejewski, Shekarchi, Chippendale, Ajello, Kislak,
Edwards, Tanzi, Stewart, Dawson, and Shallcross Smith

     Date Introduced: January 10, 2024

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, It is with sadness that this House has learned of the passing of Alan Sumner

Flink, the devoted husband of the late Renee Flink for sixty-eight years, and the beloved father of

Marc and his wife, Margaret, Philip and his wife, Anne, and Peter: and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Flink grew up in the City of Providence. He was the son of the late

Sadye and Philip Flink, and the brother of the late Ruth Ades. Mr. Flink was also the proud

grandfather of Andrew and his wife, Anna, Sarah, Hannah and her fiancé, Andrew Priester and

his daughter, Paige, Philip and his wife, Rylie Anderson, Leanne, Trevor, and the late Madison

Flink. He was also the cherished great-grandfather of Zoe and Charlie; and

     WHEREAS, Following high school, Mr. Flink served with honor in the United States

Navy during World War II. Upon returning from the service, he attended Brown University,

where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree, and Boston University Law School, where he

attained his Juris Doctor degree cum laude and was a member of the Law Review; and

     WHEREAS, After earning his degree, Mr. Flink was admitted to practice law in Rhode

Island and Massachusetts and began what would become a long and distinguished law career,

initially with Letts Quinn & Licht, and subsequently as a partner and legal ethicist with Edwards

& Angell; and

     WHEREAS, Highly respected in the legal field, Mr. Flink was a member of numerous

professional affiliations, including serving as President as well as numerous additional executive

positions with the Rhode Island Bar Association, Commissioner on the Rhode Island Judicial

Nominating Commission, and Editor-in-Chief of the RI Bar Journal; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Flink was a “staunch advocate for the principles of democracy and

judicial merit selection” which culminated in his service as Director of Common Cause of Rhode

Island, and earned him Common Cause’s recognition as a John Gardner Fellow in 2021. He was

also a member of the Jewish Federation of RI, a member and former Director of Planned

Parenthood of RI, a member and former President of the John Hope Settlement House, the Chair

of the Lawyer’s Division of United Way, a member of the Rhode Island Supreme Court Ethics

Reform Commission, and Director of Justice Assistance; and

     WHEREAS, Alan Flink was blessed with a large and loving family, many good friends,

and a life that had purpose and integrity, and while he is gone from sight, he will never be

vanished from the hearts of those who were fortunate to be a part of his remarkable life; now,

therefore be it

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

extends deepest condolences on the passing of Alan Sumner Flink. “May his memory be a

blessing”; 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 Marc Flink, Philip Flink, and Peter Flink.

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LC004049

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