2024 -- H 7226

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LC003488

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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

RECOGNIZING AND THANKING THE HONORABLE ARTHUR G. CAPALDI ON HIS

RETIREMENT AFTER MORE THAN FIFTY YEARS OF DEVOTED SERVICE TO THE

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND THE CITIZENS OF COVENTRY

     Introduced By: Representatives Noret, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale, Nardone,
Costantino, Kennedy, P. Morgan, Roberts, and Ajello

     Date Introduced: January 18, 2024

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, The Honorable Arthur G. Capaldi has served the Town of Coventry and

State of Rhode Island in various capacities throughout his professional career; and

     WHEREAS, Judge Capaldi brought a heightened sense of legal professionalism and

gravitas in his service to the Town as a Pre-Law graduate of Providence College in 1965 and

1968 graduate of Suffolk University School of Law. He also maintained a private practice in

Coventry specializing in municipal, corporate, contract, tort, real estate, elder, and probate law, as

well as estate planning; and

     WHEREAS, Judge Capaldi's career has included practicing before nearly two dozen

courts, boards, and agencies at the State and Federal levels, most notably including, but not

limited to, Probate Court, District Court, Superior Court, Family Court, Supreme Court, the State

Labor Relations Board, State Zoning Appeals Board, U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode

Island, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, U.S. Department of Labor – Worker's Compensation, and the

National Labor Relations Board; and

     WHEREAS, Judge Capaldi was an active practitioner in the professional community

serving as a member of various organizations including the National Academy of Elder Law

Attorney's, Inc., Rhode Island Bar Association, American Bar Association, American Trial

Attorney's Association, Arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association, and the Municipal

Court Judges Association, where he briefly served as President in 2000; and

     WHEREAS, The history of the legal services and representation in the Town of Coventry

cannot be reflected upon without largely recognizing the contributions made by Judge Capaldi,

who held the roles of Assistant Solicitor from 1968-1970, Solicitor from 1970-1972 and again

from 1978-1980. He also served as legal advisor to the Coventry School Committee from 1974-

1978, and the Coventry Sewer Authority from 1974-1976. He has also served as the legal advisor

to the Coventry Housing Authority for more than four decades and the Coventry Housing

Associates Corporation for nearly 30 years, and was counsel to Coventry Crossroads Apartments,

L.P. for 20 years; and

     WHEREAS, Judge Capaldi's contributions to the Town of Coventry are numerous, but

most notable were the creation of the Sewer Authority, advisor in acquisition of the land for

today's Coventry High School and all school building committees during his tenure, title

examination for a majority of the Town's elderly and low- to moderate-income housing, and the

foundations of the Town Charter, codes, and ordinances that govern the town today; and

     WHEREAS, For the last 33 years, Judge Capaldi has served as Municipal Court Judge

for the Town of Coventry, where he has provided jurisdiction over all town ordinances and state

traffic laws with integrity and distinction; now, therefore be it

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

congratulates and recognizes the Honorable Arthur G. Capaldi on more than fifty years of

excellence in service to our State, the Town of Coventry and the law-at-large, including the most

underrepresented and marginalized communities; and be it further

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

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Honorable Arthur G. Capaldi.

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LC003488

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