SENATE RESOLUTION EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF THE HONORABLE ANTHONY DELUCA

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2026 -- S 2426
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N
EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF THE HONORABLE ANTHONY
DELUCA

Introduced By:
Senator Dawn M. Euer

Date Introduced:
February 03, 2026

Referred To:
Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar
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WHEREAS, It is with deep sadness that this Senate has learned of the passing of the
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Honorable Anthony DeLuca, a dedicated public servant who always had the courage of his
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convictions to express his beliefs on contentious issues. He also served our nation with honor and
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distinction as a member of the Rhode Island National Guard; and
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WHEREAS, Anthony DeLuca was born in Naples, Italy, the son of the late Alfonso and
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Annunziata DeLuca. Mr. DeLuca emigrated to the United States at the age of nine with his
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mother, brother Ciro and sister Anna to join their father in the United States, eventually settling in
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Providence. Mr. DeLuca attended Holy Ghost grade school, Classical High School, the Rhode
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Island School of Design, and Providence College, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts and
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Master’s Degrees; and
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WHEREAS, Anthony DeLuca was a well-admired educator who taught for over a
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combined thirty years with the Cranston Public Schools. His distinguished career in education
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began when he accepted a position at Cranston West High School to teach Italian and Spanish.
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He later headed the Foreign Language Departments at both Cranston West High School and
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Western Hills Middle School. Under Mr. DeLuca’s direction, guidance and leadership, both
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programs received national recognition and accolades for their excellence. Mr. DeLuca was also
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awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study Italian literature in Italy. Mr. DeLuca also taught at the
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University of Rhode Island, Salve Regina University and Roger Williams University; and
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WHEREAS, Anthony DeLuca was also a distinguished public servant who always served

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his constituents with passion and abiding integrity. He served on the Cranston City Council for
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eight years and was elevated by the Council to serve as its Council President. Mr. DeLuca also
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served for six years, from 1981 to 1986, as a member of the Rhode Island House of
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Representatives from Cranston. Mr. DeLuca also acted as a delegate to the 2000 Democratic
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National Convention; and
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WHEREAS, Anthony DeLuca, with his wife Sylvia, was a passionate supporter of same-
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sex marriage equality and legislation in Rhode Island. Mr. DeLuca was a dedicated member of
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Rhode Island Catholics for Marriage Equality, and testified in favor of the 2013 Rhode Island bill
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that legalized same-sex marriage; and
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WHEREAS, Mr. DeLuca was also a man of great generosity and compassion who was
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committed to helping others. He counseled young men in the Progress for Providence program
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and coached high school football and golf. In his free time, Mr. DeLuca was a passionate student
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of politics, a superb cook, an opera devotee, and a big fan of the New York Yankees and
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Providence College Basketball; and
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WHEREAS, Mr. DeLuca is survived by his wife of 66 years, Sylvia DeLuca, his children
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Anthony, Steven and his wife, Kim, and Luisa and her wife, Brenda Harvey. Mr. DeLuca also
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leaves behind his twin sister Anna Spadetti, his brother-in-law John Mastrobuono and his wife,
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Carole, his granddaughters Cara DeLuca and Talia DeLuca, and his nieces and nephews, Nancy
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Courtemanche, Peter J. Spadetti, Stefanie Mastrobuono, Claudia Mastrobuono, Liza DeFedele,
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Marc Mastrobuono, Jon Paul Mastrobuono, and Matt Fugere. Mr. DeLuca was the brother of the
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late Ciro DeLuca, the son-in-law of the late John and Mary Mastrobuono, and the brother-in-law
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of the late Peter A. Spadetti and of the late Paul Mastrobuono; now, therefore be it
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RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby expresses its deepest
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condolences on the passing of the Honorable Anthony DeLuca; 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 a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mrs. Sylvia DeLuca and Family.
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