Deepest Condolences on the Passing of Arthur Armand Coia

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.