S 2004

2026 -- S 2004
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LC003585
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  STATE  OF        RHODE  ISLAND
  IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
  JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
  ____________
  SENATE RESOLUTION
   EXPRESSING DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF THE HONORABLE
  DAVID R. CARLIN, JR.
  Introduced By: Senators Lawson, Felag, de la Cruz, Tikoian, Euer, Patalano, Quezada,
  Gallo, Sosnowski, and DiPalma
  Date Introduced: January 08, 2026
  Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration
1WHEREAS, It is with great sadness that this Senate has learned of the passing of the
2 Honorable David R. Carlin, Jr., the esteemed former Majority Leader of the Rhode Island State
3 Senate. He was the beloved husband of Maureen Carlin for more than 55 years; and
4WHEREAS, The Honorable David Carlin, Jr., was born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, in
5 1938, the son of the late David and Marion Carlin. Mr. Carlin graduated from Saint Raphael
6 Academy in Pawtucket in 1956, and then attended Providence College, where he graduated with
7 honors in 1960. Mr. Carlin continued his education by obtaining master’s degrees in philosophy
8 and sociology from the University of Notre Dame and the University of Rhode Island. Mr. Carlin
9 then began a distinguished career in education as a college professor at the Community College
10 of Rhode Island, where he taught for more than 40 years until his retirement after his 80th
11 birthday; and
12WHEREAS, David Carlin also had a long and admirable record of outstanding public
13 service, beginning as a member of the Newport School Committee in 1975, a position he held
14 until his election to the Rhode Island State Senate in 1980, where he represented with distinction
15 the residents of Newport and, in later years, the residents of Jamestown and Middletown. Widely
16 respected by his colleagues, Mr. Carlin was chosen by his colleagues to serve as the Senate
17 Majority Leader from 1988 to 1990. In 1992, David Carlin won his party’s nomination to be the
18 Democratic candidate for Rhode Island’s 1st Congressional District. David Carlin also served as
19 the Chair of the Newport Democratic Party City Committee from 1999 to 2005, and was elected
1 once again to serve on the Newport School Committee, from 2001 to 2009; and
2WHEREAS, In his free time, Mr. Carlin was a prolific author, having written seven
3 books and many newspaper and magazine articles, and was the recipient of many writing awards.
4 He also greatly enjoyed reading, maintained a personal library of thousands of books and enjoyed
5 traveling with his wife, having visited 48 states and most of Europe. Mr. Carlin was also a man of
6 deep Catholic faith, which guided him throughout all aspects of his life; and
7WHEREAS, In addition to his wife, Maureen, David Carlin leaves behind his children,
8 David R. Carlin, III, and his wife, Patricia, Joshua E. Carlin, and his wife, Kerri, and Margaret R.
9 Carlin. Mr. Carlin is also survived by his grandchildren, Brigid, Luke, Daniel, and Mary Carlin,
10 as well as his sister, Catherine M. Duffy, and his niece, Mary Catherine Rollinson. Mr. Carlin was
11 predeceased by his parents, sister, Maureen Fitzgerald, and his brothers-in-law, Bruce Fitzgerald
12 and Vincent Duffy; now, therefore be it
13RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby expresses its deepest
14 condolences to the Carlin Family on the passing of the Honorable David R. Carlin, Jr., and be it
15 further
16RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to
17 transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mrs. Maureen Carlin and Family.
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