Extending Deepest Condolences on the Passing of Alan Geoffrey Hassenfeld

WHEREAS, It is with sadness that this House has learned of the passing of Alan Hassenfeld, a prominent businessman and philanthropist, past Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman Emeritus of Hasbro Toys, which had been founded by the Hassenfeld family in 1923; and

WHEREAS, Alan Hassenfeld was the son of the late Merrill Hassenfeld, the brother of the late Stephen Hassenfeld and Ellen Block, and the husband of Vivien Maria Hassenfeld. He had joined the family business in 1970, after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania; and

WHEREAS, Rising through the company's ranks, Mr. Hassenfeld was named President in 1984, and in 1989, was named Chairman and CEO, positions he held until 2005, and 2003, respectively; and

WHEREAS, During his tenure as Chairman, Mr. Hassenfeld led the company through years of substantial growth, most notably with the acquisition of the Tonka Corporation and Magic; and

WHEREAS, Alan Hassenfeld generously shared the success of Hasbro Toys, by making myriad altruistic endowments and contributions to numerous philanthropic endeavors including, being a founding benefactor of the Hasbro Children's Hospital, establishing the nonprofit Hassenfeld Family Initiative LLC, an organization focused on women and children's rights and safety, establishing the Hassenfeld Family Innovation Center at Brandeis University, funding the Hassenfeld Foundation Scholarship, as well as numerous additional scholarships, and establishing the Hassenfeld Child Health Innovation Institute at Brown University; and

WHEREAS, Throughout his lifetime, Alan Hassenfeld was honored with a panoply of accolades including, being inducted into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame in 1996, the renaming of Bryant University's Public Leadership Institute after Mr. Hassenfeld, and was named a member of the Brown University Board of Trustees; and

WHEREAS, Alan Hassenfeld has left a lasting legacy of generosity, astute leadership, and inspiration that has and will continue to benefit generations of Rhode Islanders; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby extends deepest sympathy and condolences on the passing of Alan G. Hassenfeld; 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 Vivien Maria Hassenfeld and Ellen Block.