SENATE RESOLUTION EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF ARTHUR PAIVA, the official text

S3269 2026 -- S 3269 ======== LC003674 ======== STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF ARTHUR PAIVA Introduced By: Senators Lawson, de la Cruz, Felag, Tikoian, Appollonio, Rogers, Paolino, Raptakis, Zurier, and Vargas Date Introduced: May 06, 2026 Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar 1 WHEREAS, It is with deep sadness that this Senate has learned of the passing of Arthur 2 Paiva, a devoted family man, distinguished veteran and community servant. Mr. Paiva was 3 predeceased by his wife, Marie Elizabeth Stricker Paiva and his son-in-law Mark Stephen Weed. 4 Arthur Paiva was the devoted and proud father of the Honorable M. Teresa Paiva Weed, former 5 Rhode Island State Senate President and distinguished Rhode Island State Senator, Joe Paiva and 6 John Paiva, his daughters-in-law, Lauren Krams Paiva and Jackie Mercer, and his three 7 grandchildren, Josh, Jake and Lilly. Mr. Paiva was also the brother of the late Anthony Paiva, 8 George Paiva, Manuel Paiva, Francis Paiva, Mary Keavy, and Mary Rodrigues; and 9 WHEREAS, Arthur Paiva was born on a farm in Warren, and arrived in Newport in 1938 10 at the age of six, only able to speak Portuguese. With the help of his many friends, and by 11 voraciously reading the local newspapers, Arthur taught himself English during his first year of 12 grade school. Arthur was a rambunctious youngster who easily made friends, while playing 13 baseball and tennis and working in restaurants and bowling alleys, but he also frequently got into 14 trouble. After either dropping out or being expelled from High School, Mr. Paiva joined the 15 United States Army, and ended up fighting in some of the most brutal battles of the Korean War 16 in June of 1953, where he witnessed the deaths of many men and found himself on the wrong side 17 of the enemy lines for three days; and 18 WHEREAS, Returning home from the United States Army, Arthur was suffering from 19 what we now know to be PTSD. Arthur got back into trouble at home and received an ultimatum 20 from Judge Carrellas to either straighten up or re-enter the military. In 1955, Arthur chose to 1 enlist in the United States Air Force, which turned out to be the best decision of his life. He 2 served our nation with distinction for three years as an Aircraft Weapons Technician and, more 3 importantly, met the love of his life, Marie Paiva, at Elgin Air Force Base; and 4 WHEREAS, Arthur Paiva returned to Newport in 1958 with his wife, a transformed man. 5 He served his community and provided for his family as a mail carrier for 27 years, while also 6 raising his family of three children. Arthur and his wife were extensively involved in community 7 affairs, being active in numerous clubs and volunteered for many causes. Arthur was an honorary 8 life-member and Past Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus, an honorary life-member of the 9 Newport Elks, where Arthur and Marie would often dance the night away on the dance floor. 10 Arthur was also a member of the VFW, Vasco de Gama, and an Auxiliary member of the Vincent 11 de Paul Society; and 12 WHEREAS, Arthur also helped to save lives through his leadership in bringing Kidney 13 Dialysis machines to Newport and Rhode Island in the early 1970’s, by collaborating with the 14 Rhode Island Kidney Foundation, Knights of Columbus and other nonprofit organizations. Arthur 15 also became one of the oldest bone marrow donors in history in order to save and extend the life 16 of his brother despite the great risk to his own health and the significant possibility that his 17 damaged heart and artificial aorta could fail; and 18 WHEREAS, Arthur was also an umpire for 51 consecutive years and was amongst the 19 first senior umpires to umpire girls and women’s softball games. He earned wide praise and 20 recognition for his support of women’s softball; now, therefore be it 21 RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby expresses its deepest 22 condolences on the passing of Arthur Paiva; and be it further 23 RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to 24 transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable M. Teresa Paiva Weed, Joe 25 Paiva and John Paiva. ======== LC003674 ======== LC003674 - Page 2 of 2