Senate President Ruggerio passes away

STATE HOUSE, Providence – It is with deepest sorrow that we announce the passing of Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio earlier this morning.

Out of respect for President Ruggerio, all Senate business scheduled for this week, including session and committees, will be postponed until further notice.

Senate Majority Leader Valarie J. Lawson said, “I am heartbroken by Donny’s passing. He was a dear friend and mentor, someone who shared my passion for improving the lives of working people, making our state a better place to live and work, and the institution of the Senate. He touched the lives of many of my colleagues and many Rhode Islanders, and he will be deeply missed. Whether or not one agreed with Donny on any particular issue, he always kept his door open and listened, and many times put his own point of view aside for the good of this Senate Chamber he loved. That, I believe, was one of his greatest attributes. The deepest condolences of the entire Senate are with his children, Charles and Amanda; his grandchildren, whom he adored; his sister, Lisa; his entire family and many, many friends and loved ones. Rest in peace, my friend.”

Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz said, “My heartfelt sympathies go out to the family, loved ones, and friends of Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio. I am deeply saddened by the loss of a man who devoted so much of himself to the stewardship of our venerable Rhode Island Senate. President Ruggerio was an effective leader and a man who kept his word. He gained the admiration and loyalty of his colleagues and staff through mutual respect and leaves a remarkable legacy of service and dedication to the legislature and to the State of Rhode Island.  He will be greatly missed.”

Said Senate Majority Whip David Tikoian, “Dominick was a statesman who dedicated his life to the service of our state. President Ruggerio was the Dean, or longest-serving, member of the Senate, to which he was first elected in 1984. He genuinely cared about the community he served, and it showed. He was a relentless and effective advocate on their behalf, and on behalf of all Rhode Islanders. Today, we mourn the loss of a tremendous leader, mentor and friend.”

Senate President Pro Tempore Hanna M. Gallo said, “In the countless hours I spent alongside Donny over the years, he became an invaluable mentor and a trusted friend whose guidance helped me advance personally and professionally. He never hesitated to go out of his way to help me in any situation, as he did for so many others. Donny leaves an amazing legacy at the State House. As a legislator, he served the people of his community with unmatched compassion and commitment for so many years. As a leader, he set a powerful example for all of us in public service. He always conducted himself with dignity, showed respect for everyone, and embodied the collegial spirit that defines our chamber. I will remember him as someone who loved his town, his state, and his time in public service. He dedicated his own life to improving the lives of those around him, in any way he could. Donny will be so deeply missed by all of us, and I send my deepest condolences to his loved ones.”

He was first elected President of the Rhode Island Senate in March of 2017, having previously served as Majority Leader since November 10, 2010. Before his Senate service, he served in the House of Representatives from 1981 to 1984.

In recent years, President Ruggerio focused much of his work on improving the health care system and the state’s business environment. Last year and this year, he helped lead development of separate packages of health care bills aimed at improving access, affordability and the overall strength of the health care system. In the 2023 session, he helped create a new $50,000 tangible personal property tax exemption that will fully eliminate this burdensome tax for roughly 75 percent of Rhode Island businesses.

Senator Ruggerio also championed job creation and retention through his work as a member of the Joint Commission on Ports and by working to strategically develop the land being made available in downtown Providence from the relocation of Interstate 195. He was a consistent champion of the Real Jobs Rhode Island program, which utilizes an industry-driven approach to help workers acquire the skills needed for in-demand, family-supporting jobs.

Other initiatives Senator Ruggerio sponsored to help make Rhode Island more competitive include the legalization of sports betting in Rhode Island following a landmark 2018 U.S. Supreme Court decision; subsequent measures to allow for mobile sports wagering, betting on in-state collegiate teams during tournaments, and iGaming; and a law, enacted in 2007, allowing automobile dealerships to open on Sundays.

Senator Ruggerio was a champion of Rhode Island’s climate action. Following the adoption of the 2021 Act on Climate, he sponsored a historic law requiring that 100 percent of Rhode Island’s electricity be offset by renewable production by 2033, setting the most aggressive energy standard of any state in the U.S.

He was also a staunch advocate for investment in Rhode Island’s early childhood care and education system, including efforts to provide universal pre-kindergarten for 3- and 4-year-olds. He sponsored legislation to make the Rhode Island Promise program permanent, providing eligible Rhode Island students with up to two years of free tuition at CCRI.

He was a leader in efforts to address lead poisoning by replacing all lead pipes in Rhode Island’s water supply, and he sponsored the Plastic Waste Reduction Act to reduce single-use plastic bags, as well as successful legislation to phase-out mercury-containing fluorescent bulbs. He has additionally sponsored laws to institute a recycling program for mercury used in automobiles, improve collection and disposal rules for mercury thermostats, and create the state’s mattress recycling program.

Senator Ruggerio served as Majority Whip from 2003 through 2010. He previously served as a member and as Vice Chairman of the Senate Labor Committee, and as a member of the Senate Finance Committee, the Senate Rules Committee and the Joint Committee on Accounts and Claims.

A retired Administrator of the New England Laborers Labor Management Co-op Trust, he also served as a Policy Aide for the Office of the Lieutenant Governor from 1977 through 1981. A 1966 graduate of La Salle Academy, Senator Ruggerio attended Bryant College and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 1974 from Providence College.

President Ruggerio represented District 4, which includes parts of North Providence and Providence. He leaves two children, Charles Ruggerio and his wife Jillian and Amanda Fallon and her husband PJ; four grandchildren, Ava and Mia Ruggerio and Natalie and Jameson Fallon; and a sister, Lisa Aceto.​