HOUSE RESOLUTION EXPRESSING DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF ARTHUR ARMAND COIA

H7061

2026 -- H 7061
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
EXPRESSING DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF ARTHUR ARMAND
COIA

Introduced By:
Representatives Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Bennett, Chippendale,
Paplauskas, Kazarian, Casimiro, Solomon, Shanley, and Dawson

Date Introduced:
January 13, 2026

Referred To:
House read and passed
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WHEREAS, It is with sadness that this House has learned of the passing of Arthur
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Armand Coia, the beloved husband of Donna Paolino Coia, and the devoted father of Christen
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Corrente and her husband, Darren, and Arthur E. Coia II, and his wife, Jennifer, who are the
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children of his previous marriage to the late Joanne Coia; and
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WHEREAS, Blessed with a large and loving family, Mr. Coia was the very proud
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grandfather of Catherine Corrente, Nicholas Corrente, Caroline Coia and Arthur A. Coia III, and
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also leaves behind his stepdaughters, Mari Bianco and her husband, Angelo, and their children,
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Nicholas, AJ and Brooklyn, and Kara Paolino Marchionte and her husband, Adam Hayden, and
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their children Hudson and Stella; and
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WHEREAS, Arthur Coia was born in the City of Providence, the only child of Marie and
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Arthur Coia. He was a graduate of LaSalle Academy, and had earned his Bachelor’s degree from
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Providence College, and his Juris Doctor from Boston University School of Law. While in law
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school, he joined the Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 271 and
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worked in construction, and in 1967, became the first Business Manager of the Rhode Island
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Laborers District Council; and
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WHEREAS, In 1970, Mr. Coia co-founded the law firm of Coia & Lepore with his
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partner and dear friend, and focused on Workers’ Compensation and protecting the rights of
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injured workers. He also continued his efforts with Laborers International Union of North
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America (LIUNA), where he rose to the position of first Regional Manager, then International

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Vice President in 1986, followed by General Secretary-Treasurer, and ultimately began serving as
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the General President of LIUNA in 1993; and
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WHEREAS, During his tenure as General President of LIUNA, Mr. Coia steered the
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organization through a period of growth, prosperity, unity and strength, through his deep belief
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and ability to unite labor and management to work together for a positive result of shared success;
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and
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WHEREAS, Mr. Coia was also a staunch and instrumental advocate for education,
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creating the Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust (LECET) and the Arthur E.
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Coia Scholarship Education Fund in honor of his late father; and
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WHEREAS, A man of varied enthusiasms, Mr. Coia was a lifelong musician, who loved
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to entertain his grandchildren with impromptu musical performances, was an avid sports fan, who
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ardently followed the New York Yankees and Providence College Friars, was an accomplished
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golfer who won myriad Club Championships, an over-the-top auto enthusiast and renowned
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expert on Ferraris, and was a dog lover, who bred and raised award winning Rottweilers, to name
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but a few of his various passions; and
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WHEREAS, Arthur Coia lived and created a lifetime of accomplishments, with wisdom
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and compassion, an infectious laugh, a warm and welcoming smile, and the humor of a prankster
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and story teller. He dearly loved his family and friends, and forever remained “a child at heart”
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who is so deeply missed by those who had the good fortune to have been a part of his remarkable
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life; now, therefore be it
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RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby
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extends deepest sympathy and condolences to the family and many friends of Arthur Armand
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Coia; and be it further
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RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to
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transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Mrs. Donna Paolino Coia and Family.
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