Condolences on the Passing of Arthur Paiva

WHEREAS, It is with deep sadness that this Senate has learned of the passing of Arthur Paiva, a devoted family man, distinguished veteran and community servant. Mr. Paiva was predeceased by his wife, Marie Elizabeth Stricker Paiva and his son-in-law Mark Stephen Weed. Arthur Paiva was the devoted and proud father of the Honorable M. Teresa Paiva Weed, former Rhode Island State Senate President and distinguished Rhode Island State Senator, Joe Paiva and John Paiva, his daughters-in-law, Lauren Krams Paiva and Jackie Mercer, and his three grandchildren, Josh, Jake and Lilly. Mr. Paiva was also the brother of the late Anthony Paiva, George Paiva, Manuel Paiva, Francis Paiva, Mary Keavy, and Mary Rodrigues; and

WHEREAS, Arthur Paiva was born on a farm in Warren, and arrived in Newport in 1938 at the age of six, only able to speak Portuguese. With the help of his many friends, and by voraciously reading the local newspapers, Arthur taught himself English during his first year of grade school. Arthur was a rambunctious youngster who easily made friends, while playing baseball and tennis and working in restaurants and bowling alleys, but he also frequently got into trouble. After either dropping out or being expelled from High School, Mr. Paiva joined the United States Army, and ended up fighting in some of the most brutal battles of the Korean War in June of 1953, where he witnessed the deaths of many men and found himself on the wrong side of the enemy lines for three days; and

WHEREAS, Returning home from the United States Army, Arthur was suffering from what we now know to be PTSD. Arthur got back into trouble at home and received an ultimatum from Judge Carrellas to either straighten up or re-enter the military. In 1955, Arthur chose to enlist in the United States Air Force, which turned out to be the best decision of his life. He served our nation with distinction for three years as an Aircraft Weapons Technician and, more importantly, met the love of his life, Marie Paiva, at Elgin Air Force Base; and

WHEREAS, Arthur Paiva returned to Newport in 1958 with his wife, a transformed man. He served his community and provided for his family as a mail carrier for 27 years, while also raising his family of three children. Arthur and his wife were extensively involved in community affairs, being active in numerous clubs and volunteered for many causes. Arthur was an honorary life-member and Past Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus, an honorary life-member of the Newport Elks, where Arthur and Marie would often dance the night away on the dance floor. Arthur was also a member of the VFW, Vasco de Gama, and an Auxiliary member of the Vincent de Paul Society; and

WHEREAS, Arthur also helped to save lives through his leadership in bringing Kidney Dialysis machines to Newport and Rhode Island in the early 1970’s, by collaborating with the Rhode Island Kidney Foundation, Knights of Columbus and other nonprofit organizations. Arthur also became one of the oldest bone marrow donors in history in order to save and extend the life of his brother despite the great risk to his own health and the significant possibility that his damaged heart and artificial aorta could fail; and

WHEREAS, Arthur was also an umpire for 51 consecutive years and was amongst the first senior umpires to umpire girls and women’s softball games. He earned wide praise and recognition for his support of women’s softball; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby expresses its deepest condolences on the passing of Arthur Paiva; 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 the Honorable M. Teresa Paiva Weed, Joe Paiva and John Paiva.