Condolences on the Passing of the Honorable Edward L. Maggiacomo

WHEREAS, It is with deep sadness that this House of Representatives has learned of the passing of the Honorable Edward L. Maggiacomo. Mr. Maggiacomo was born in Providence in 1936, a son of Guiseppe and Guilia Maggiacomo. He was the youngest of seven children and was raised in Cranston; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Maggiacomo graduated from Providence College and served our nation with honor and distinction as a Lieutenant in the United States Army. In 1960, while serving in the Army in Germany during the Cold War, he was invited to Christmas Eve services and a family dinner where he met the love of his life, Inge. They fell in love, were married for 64 years, and raised four children together; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Maggiacomo later graduated from Georgetown University Law Center, and was a founding member of one of Rhode Island’s largest and most prestigious law firms, Adler Pollock & Sheehan P.C. Mr. Maggiacomo was widely respected as a practicing attorney for his acumen, abiding integrity and tireless work ethic as well as for his willingness to serve as a mentor to younger attorneys; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Maggiacomo was also a dedicated public servant who represented the citizens of Knightsville, Cranston, from 1967 to 1980, in the House of Representatives, rising to the position of Majority Leader. Mr. Maggiacomo then proceeded to serve for sixteen years as Rhode Island's Democratic National Committeeman, where he attended numerous Democratic National Conventions and cast Electoral College votes in several Presidential Elections; and

WHEREAS, Other highlights of Mr. Maggiacomo's sterling legal and public service careers included attending a Rose Garden ceremony at the White House honoring Pope John Paul II, and a State Dinner honoring the Prime Minister of Italy; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Maggiacomo also served with distinction as a trustee of the Rhode Island Foundation. He was very proud of his record at the Rhode Island Foundation of assisting Rhode Islanders in need. He also was a loyal Providence College Alumnus who served for thirty years on the President’s Counsel and faithfully donated to Providence College for 65 consecutive years; and

WHEREAS, In addition to his wife Inge, Mr. Maggiacomo leaves behind his daughter Susanne and her husband, Steven Tallarida, his son Edward Maggiacomo Jr., and his wife, Kristin, and his son Stephen Maggiacomo and his wife, Maryellen. Mr. Maggiacomo was predeceased by his son Michael. Mr. Maggiacomo also leaves behind his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, including Haylee and her husband, Deepak Diwan, and their children, Shepard, Sienna and Gemma, as well as Chloe and Sophie Tallarida, by Michael, Mia, Mollie, Matthew Maggiacomo and Tom Maggiacomo, Grace Finney, and her husband, John, and John, Marc and David Maggiacomo and also his sister Elaine Ruggieri. Mr. Maggiacomo was predeceased by his brothers, Biagio and Joseph, and his sisters, Assunta Iaciofano, Mary Grimaldi, and Gloria Zito; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby expresses its deepest condolences to the Maggiacomo Family on the passing of the Honorable Edward L. Maggiacomo; 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 Susanne Tallarida, Edward Maggiacomo, Jr., Stephen Maggiacomo and Inge Maggiacomo.