09-R112

2009 -- S 0795

Enacted 03/18/09

S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N

HONORING SENATOR JOSEPH A. MONTALBANO FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Introduced By: Senators Paiva-Weed, Ruggerio, Connors, Lenihan, and Algiere

Date Introduced: March 18, 2009

     WHEREAS, It has been said that there are six essential qualities a person must possess in

order to be successful in life. They are sincerity, personal integrity, humility, courtesy, wisdom

and charity, and so it is not hard to understand why Joe Montalbano has had such a distinguished

career and played such a vital role in providing leadership and direction in the State of Rhode

Island; and

WHEREAS, Joseph A. Montalbano was born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Upon

graduation from Portsmouth Priory School, he attended the University of Pennsylvania, attaining

his Bachelor’s Degree in 1975, and in 1979, he earned his Juris Doctorate from St. John’s School

of Law; and  

     WHEREAS, Elected to the Rhode Island Senate on November 6th of 1988, Senator

Montalbano was initially appointed to serve as Secretary of the Senate Judiciary Committee and

as a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education and Welfare. His constituency in

District 17 has included citizens from Lincoln, North Providence and Pawtucket; and

      WHEREAS, Earning the utmost respect from his peers, Senator Montalbano was chosen

by his fellow democratic senators to serve as Senate Majority Leader in 2002, and in January of

2004, he was elected President of the Rhode Island Senate by unanimous consent; and

      WHEREAS, During his tenure as President, Senator Montalbano made property tax

relief a priority and oversaw a myriad of essential legislative bills that not only provided better

governance to Ocean State residents, but also earned him the Charles Dick Medal of Honor in

2003, the Verrazzano Day “Man of the Year” in 2004, the Barbara C. Burlingame Award for

Distinguished Public Service in 2006, and was named “Legislator of the Year” by the Rhode

Island Childhood Lead Action Project; and

      WHEREAS, Currently a practicing attorney with a flourishing law office in North

Providence, Senator Montalbano also serves as Chief Judge of the North Providence Municipal

Court and has taught Constitutional Law and Criminal Law at the Community College of Rhode

Island. He is married to his lovely wife Linda, and is the proud father of Stephen Montalbano;

and

     WHEREAS, Senator Montalbano’s leadership and tireless devotion to the citizens of the

Ocean State have earned him the unqualified admiration and esteem of this Senate and the people

of the State of Rhode Island. He is a man of trust and value, who was both efficient and effective.

He is a true gentleman, who has consistently demonstrated that honor is something to be earned,

and that all people deserve courtesy and consideration, and he is a wannabe rock and roll singer,

who is actually pretty good; and  

     WHEREAS, It is with sadness that we bid farewell to our good friend and colleague

Senator Joe Montalbano. He will most assuredly be missed; now, therefore be it

      RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby honors Senator Joseph A. Montalbano for his service in the Rhode Island General

Assembly. We thank him for a job well done, and extend our sincere wishes for his continued

health, happiness and success; and be it further 

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

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to The Honorable Joseph Montalbano.

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LC02076

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