2025 -- H 5063

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF RUFINA DELIZO RICE

     Introduced By: Representatives Fogarty, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Newberry, Azzinaro,
Chippendale, Spears, McEntee, Ajello, and Serpa

     Date Introduced: January 15, 2025

     Referred To: House read and passed

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

Delizo Rice, the beloved wife of the Honorable Michael A. Rice, Ph.D., a former distinguished

member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives who served in 2009 and 2010; and

     WHEREAS, Rufina Delizo Rice, known as "Ping" to her many friends was born in

Baguio City in the Philippines to Laureano Cachero Delizo and Dolores Delizo de Delizo of

Naguilian, La Union, Philippines. She attended the local public elementary and high school in

Baguio and then proceeded to attend the University of Baguio, earning a bachelor’s degree in

history; and

     WHEREAS, After a brief period of employment with the Philippine National Grain

Authority, Rufina Delizo Rice joined the language staff of the United States Peace Corps in the

Philippines in 1978, serving as an instructor of the Ilocano and Tagalog languages. It was during

her service with the Peace Corps that she met Michael Rice who would become the love of her

life. They were wed in 1983 in Baguio, Philippines, and she immigrated to the United States a

year later in 1984; and

     WHEREAS, After her husband Michael Rice’s Peace Corps service ended in 1985,

Rufina accepted a position to serve as a photographic technician at the Electron Microscope

Facility at the University of California, Irvine where her duties included developing photographic

plates and prepared specimens for both the transmission and scanning electron microscopy.

Rufina and Mike moved to Rhode Island in October of 1987, when her husband joined the faculty

at the University of Rhode Island; and

     WHEREAS, For close to two decades, Rufina Rice was the daycare provider for the

children of families connected with the University and the United States Environmental

Protection Agency Laboratory in Narragansett. Each and every day she provided those children

with a safe, secure, loving and enriching environment in which to flourish; and

     WHEREAS, In her free time, Rufina enjoyed photography, and was an avid gardener,

who enjoyed maintaining flourishing outdoor flower gardens and tropical indoor plants. Rufina

was also a superb cook who loved cooking up delicious surprises at get-togethers; and

     WHEREAS, Rufina Delizo Rice leaves behind her husband, the Honorable Michael A.

Rice, Ph.D., a former State Representative, and her daughter Maria Isabel Rice, Esq., as well as

her siblings Henry Delizo, Delfin Delizo, and Caroline Delizo. She was predeceased by her

parents and three siblings, Marjorie Delizo, Luz Delizo Barber and Nestor Delizo; now, therefore

be it

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

expresses its deepest condolences on the passing of Rufina Delizo Rice; 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 Michael A. Rice and Family.

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