2024 -- S 3013 | |
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LC006038 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024 | |
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S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N | |
EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF THE HONORABLE FRANCIS R. | |
STETKIEWICZ | |
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Introduced By: Senators Pearson, Picard, Felag, Lauria, Bissaillon, LaMountain, F. | |
Date Introduced: April 30, 2024 | |
Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration | |
1 | WHEREAS, It is with deep sadness that this Senate has learned of the passing of the |
2 | Honorable Francis R. Stetkiewicz, former Mayor of the Town of Cumberland, and the beloved |
3 | husband of Paula Stetkiewicz for 66 years; and |
4 | WHEREAS, Mr. Stetkiewicz was the son of Helen and Joseph Stetkiewicz. He was |
5 | raised in a tenement house on Cowden Street in Central Falls, a child of the Great Depression. |
6 | Like most youngsters who grew up during those trying times, Mr. Stetkiewicz worked multiple |
7 | jobs to help support his family. This experience instilled Mr. Stetkiewicz with a strong work ethic |
8 | that stayed with him throughout his life; and |
9 | WHEREAS, After graduating from St. Raphael Academy in Pawtucket, Mr. Stetkiewicz |
10 | joined the United States Coast Guard, where he served with distinction as a radioman on PBY |
11 | flying boat flights and B-17 flights, performing search and rescue missions, delivering supplies |
12 | and tracking icebergs in the North Atlantic; and |
13 | WHEREAS, After completing his military obligations, Mr. Stetkiewicz returned home |
14 | and attended Providence College with help from the G.I. Bill, and by working nights and |
15 | weekends. He graduated from Providence College in 1958 with a degree in political science; and |
16 | WHEREAS, Upon graduating from college, Mr. Stetkiewicz began his professional |
17 | career in financial services working for Dun & Broadstreet. At the same time, he continued |
18 | serving the public. He and a group of fellow citizens established the Cumberland-Lincoln Boys |
19 | Club, (now the Boys and Girls Club of Northern Rhode Island) in 1961, where he served as Club |
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1 | President in the early 1970s. In addition, he supported youth sports throughout his life; and |
2 | WHEREAS, In 1976, Mr. Stetkiewicz began his distinguished political career when he |
3 | ran for and won a seat on the Cumberland Town Council. Two years later, he won a special |
4 | election to serve as the Cumberland Town Administrator, a precursor to today’s Office of Mayor. |
5 | He served as the Town of Cumberland’s Town Administrator and later as Mayor for more than |
6 | twenty consecutive years, holding the honor of being the Town of Cumberland’s last Town |
7 | Administrator and first Mayor; and |
8 | WHEREAS, As Mayor, Mr. Stetkiewicz was known for his tireless work ethic and |
9 | abiding integrity. He fought to keep property taxes low, launched one of the nation’s first |
10 | recycling programs, and helped to establish the Sri Chimnoy Peace Bridge on Broad Street which |
11 | symbolically connected his two hometowns; and |
12 | WHEREAS, After retiring from elected office, Mr. Stetkiewicz worked for ten years for |
13 | the Central Falls City Housing Authority and later served as the Chairman of the committee that |
14 | started the process of unifying Cumberland’s fire districts; and |
15 | WHEREAS, In addition to his wife, Paula, Mr. Stetkiewicz leaves behind his children, |
16 | Michael, Mark, Raymond, Christian and Ellen, as well as his eight grandchildren. He also leaves |
17 | behind his sister, Helen Mojkowski. He was preceded in passing by his brothers, Joseph Stett, |
18 | John Stetkiewicz and Robert Stevens; now, therefore be it |
19 | RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby expresses its deepest |
20 | condolences on the passing of the Honorable Francis R. Stetkiewicz; and be it further |
21 | RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
22 | transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mrs. Paula Stetkiewicz and Family. |
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LC006038 | |
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