Condolences on the Passing of Raymond A. Choiniere

WHEREAS, It is with deep sadness that this House of Representatives has learned of the passing of Raymond A. Choiniere, who passed away peacefully on April 8, 2026, at the age of 85, surrounded by his loving family; and

WHEREAS, Born on October 1, 1940, in the City of Providence, Mr. Choiniere was the son of the late Arthur and Alice (McCartney) Choiniere, and was predeceased by his brothers, Arthur, Edward, Robert, and Jon Choiniere, and his sister, Jeanne Harrington; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Choiniere is survived by his beloved wife of more than fifty-eight years, Elizabeth (Dunnigan) Choiniere, with whom he shared a lifetime of love and devotion; his daughters, Monique Choiniere, Esq., and Nicole Choiniere-Kroeker; his son-in-law, Jim Kroeker; his cherished grandson, Liam Raymond Miller; and many nieces and nephews; and

WHEREAS, A gifted and determined athlete, Mr. Choiniere was an all-state standout in baseball and football at Warwick Veterans Memorial High School, where he served as co-captain of the football team, leading his team to share top honors in Class A in 1958, and also helped lead the baseball team to a state championship in 1959; and

WHEREAS, Continuing his athletic career, Mr. Choiniere played baseball at Providence College and competed in the Cape Cod League with the Harwich Mariners, earning All-Star honors, and his talent on the field earned him a tryout with the Boston Red Sox; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Choiniere graduated from Providence College in 1963 with a degree in history and later earned a master's degree in counseling from the University of Rhode Island, dedicating his career to education as a history teacher and guidance counselor at Wickford Middle School, where he made a lasting impact on countless students; and

WHEREAS, In addition to his work in education, Mr. Choiniere was deeply committed to his community, coaching youth sports, organizing educational trips, and serving as a delegate to the 19 Democratic National Convention on behalf of Senator Frank Church, while also volunteering on numerous local, state, and federal campaigns; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Choiniere also enjoyed a career in finance and later returned to public service as a policy analyst in the Office of the Rhode Island Speaker of the House, where he served with dedication until his retirement in 2012; and

WHEREAS, A man of generosity, integrity, and unwavering character, Mr. Choiniere was devoted to his family and friends, known for his kindness, mentorship, and willingness to help others, and found great joy in time spent with loved ones, particularly at his home in Bonnet Shores; and

WHEREAS, His life was a testament to perseverance and optimism, guided by the words of Jim Valvano, "Don't give up! Don't ever give up!"; 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 Raymond A. Choiniere and honors his life of service, dedication, and compassion; 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 Choiniere family.