2024 -- H 8089

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LC005759

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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 RONALD L. ST. PIERRE

     Introduced By: Representatives J. Brien, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale,
Kennedy, Ajello, Fellela, Ackerman, Tanzi, and Boylan

     Date Introduced: March 21, 2024

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, It is with deep sadness that this House has learned of the passing of Ron St.

Pierre, a renowned broadcaster and popular media figure for forty years, much of it spent in the

State of Rhode Island; and

     WHEREAS, Ron St. Pierre grew up in the Darlington neighborhood of Pawtucket where

he began his long and distinguished media career as a paperboy. He graduated from St. Raphael

Academy in 1973, attended Rhode Island College and graduated from Graham Junior College in

1975, where he played goalie for the hockey team; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. St. Pierre's broadcasting career officially began in the mid 1970s when

he worked as a cameraman at WJAR-TV and interned in the newsroom. This was a fortuitous

beginning for him, especially because he met the love of his life, and wife of 41 years, Patti; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. St. Pierre's career began to take off when he accepted a position with

WNRI in Woonsocket in 1977. He went on to become the Program Director at WHJJ in the

1980s, where he hired Buddy Cianci to be an on-air radio host. He also anchored the weekend

sports for more than five years for WPRI/12; and

     WHEREAS, In 1988, Mr. St. Pierre moved to WPRO and switched its format from music

to news and talk, and later became the President/General Manager. He subsequently moved on to

serve stints in West Palm Beach with WBZT/WKGR, and with WABC in New York City, before

returning to WPRO in 1997, where he co-hosted a radio talk show with Buddy Cianci; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. St. Pierre's final media company position occurred from 2013 to 2020,

where he served as the drive time host for WHJJ for seven years until his retirement in 2020.

Most recently, he hosted a fun podcast with his longtime friend, Jen Brien, called "Ron and Jen's

Great Escape"; and

     WHEREAS, In recognition of his stellar broadcast and media career, Mr. St. Pierre was

inducted into the Rhode Island Radio & Television Hall of Fame in 2010 and the Pawtucket Hall

of Fame in 2017. He was perhaps most proud of winning the Dancing with the Stars of Mentoring

celebrity dance fundraiser for RI Mentoring Partnership when he wowed all attendees with his

fancy dancing moves; and

     WHEREAS, In his free time, Mr. St. Pierre enjoyed following sports, especially baseball,

loved to cook, was a 3 Stooges aficionado, played the accordion, and ran half marathons. In his

younger days, he excelled in athletics, playing ice hockey for the Lice Club and softball with

Skyway Construction in Pawtucket; and

     WHEREAS, Ron St. Pierre leaves behind his wife of 41 years, Patti St. Pierre, his sister,

Janet Somerville, and her husband, Bill, his niece, Jill Roberts and nephew, Jeffrey Somerville;

and

     WHEREAS, Ron St. Pierre has left an enduring legacy of broadcasting excellence in

Rhode Island, New York and Florida. He was a respected and generous mentor to many young

people as they entered the media workforce and was a devoted husband and family man. He was

a beloved figure in Rhode Island who will be long-remembered by his loved ones, friends, and

fans of his excellent work; now, therefore be it

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

expresses its condolences on the passing of Ron St. Pierre; 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 Mrs. Patti St. Pierre.

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LC005759

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