2026 -- S 2005

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LC003669

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF ARTHUR ARMAND

COIA

     Introduced By: Senators Ciccone, Tikoian, Lawson, Felag, de la Cruz, LaMountain,
Euer, Patalano, Quezada, and Sosnowski

     Date Introduced: January 08, 2026

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     WHEREAS, It is with sadness that this Senate has learned of the passing of Arthur

Armand Coia, the beloved husband of Donna Paolino Coia, and the devoted father of Christen

Corrente and her husband, Darren, and Arthur E. Coia II, and his wife, Jennifer, who are the

children of his previous marriage to the late Joanne Coia; and

     WHEREAS, Blessed with a large and loving family, Mr. Coia was the very proud

grandfather of Catherine Corrente, Nicholas Corrente, Caroline Coia and Arthur A. Coia III, and

also leaves behind his stepdaughters, Mari Bianco and her husband, Angelo, and their children,

Nicholas, AJ and Brooklyn, and Kara Paolino Marchionte and her husband, Adam Hayden, and

their children Hudson and Stella; and

     WHEREAS, Arthur Coia was born in the City of Providence, the only child of Marie and

Arthur Coia. He was a graduate of LaSalle Academy, and had earned his Bachelor’s degree from

Providence College, and his Juris Doctor from Boston University School of Law. While in law

school, he joined the Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 271 and

worked in construction, and in 1967, became the first Business Manager of the Rhode Island

Laborers District Council; and

     WHEREAS, In 1970, Mr. Coia co-founded the law firm of Coia & Lepore with his

partner and dear friend, and focused on Workers’ Compensation and protecting the rights of

injured workers. He also continued his efforts with Laborers International Union of North

America (LIUNA), where he rose to the position of first Regional Manager, then International

Vice President in 1986, followed by General Secretary-Treasurer, and ultimately began serving as

the General President of LIUNA in 1993; and

     WHEREAS, During his tenure as General President of LIUNA, Mr. Coia steered the

organization through a period of growth, prosperity, unity and strength, through his deep belief

and ability to unite labor and management to work together for a positive result of shared success;

and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Coia was also a staunch and instrumental advocate for education,

creating the Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust (LECET) and the Arthur E.

Coia Scholarship Education Fund in honor of his late father; and

     WHEREAS, A man of varied enthusiasms, Mr. Coia was a lifelong musician, who loved

to entertain his grandchildren with impromptu musical performances, was an avid sports fan, who

ardently followed the New York Yankees and Providence College Friars, was an accomplished

golfer who won myriad Club Championships, an over-the-top auto enthusiast and renowned

expert on Ferraris, and was a dog lover, who bred and raised award winning Rottweilers, to name

but a few of his various passions; and

     WHEREAS, Arthur Coia lived and created a lifetime of accomplishments, with wisdom

and compassion, an infectious laugh, a warm and welcoming smile, and the humor of a prankster

and story teller. He dearly loved his family and friends, and forever remained “a child at heart”

who is so deeply missed by those who had the good fortune to have been a part of his remarkable

life; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby extends deepest

sympathy and condolences to the family and many friends of Arthur Armand Coia; 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 Mrs. Donna Paolino Coia and Family.

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