Mr. President:

I rise today to pay tribute to former Rhode Island Governor J. Joseph Garrahy, who passed away last week at the age of 81. 

Joe Garrahy loved Rhode Island, and in turn, the people of Rhode Island loved Joe Garrahy. His intelligence, instinct and integrity led our State with compassion and courage.  He believed in the people of Rhode Island and in the virtue of public service.  More than three decades after he left public office, Joe Garrahy remains one of our most respected and beloved leaders.  A man of the people, the Governor is a Rhode Island icon, who will be held in high esteem for generations to come. 

John Joseph Garrahy was born from humble beginnings in Providence on November 26, 1930, the son of Irish immigrants. He graduated from La Salle Academy in Providence and attended the University of Buffalo and the University of Rhode Island.

The Governor began his political career in 1962 when he was elected to represent Smith Hill in the Rhode Island General Assembly. He served as Rhode Island’s Lieutenant Governor from 1969-1976 and then was elected Governor and served from 1977-1985.

After his retirement from public life, Governor Garrahy was a business consultant who championed new economic development projects and helped existing businesses that have always been the backbone of our Rhode Island economy. He never stopped finding new ways to promote his beloved state of Rhode Island.

As Governor, Joe Garrahy had vision, initiative and a strong work ethic.  He possessed the unique ability to bring people together to address needs at the most basic level, while at the same time tackling the most pressing public policy issues of his time. He was also gifted at bringing opposing sides together and would often invite diverse interests into room to discuss issues and matters of conflict. And, people came together, because they innately trusted the Governor and knew he always had the best interests of our State at heart.

The list of the achievements is long and his many good works have made a lasting impact on our State.   He believed that government could, and must, do all it can to improve the lives of its citizens. 

Joe Garrahy was elected Governor following the Navy’s decision to close Quonset Point and reduce its presence in Newport. In spite of double-digit unemployment and a challenging economy, he set a new course to redirect resources and make government work.  He fought for the rights of the disabled and led in the de-institutionalization of the mentally handicapped. He closed the Ladd School and ended the practice of “warehousing” the disabled at the Institute of Mental Health. He reformed Rhode Island’s prison system which was plagued with unrest and violence, transforming it to a national model.

Following the energy crisis of the 1970’s the Governor provided resources to a much needed energy office. He also forged creative partnerships with neighboring states throughout the northeast, and with leaders in the Canadian Provinces.

Governor Garrahy had a special affection for the elderly and for the children of Rhode Island and under his tenure he created the departments of Elderly Affairs and Children, Youth and Families.

The Governor was a great cheerleader for Rhode Island and he led the way for the Rhode Island Heritage Commission to flourish in efforts to preserve our state’s unique history and promote its rich cultural and ethnic heritage.  And, he was always a staunch and enthusiastic supporter of our booming tourism industry.

He had a profound love for the environment and worked diligently to clean up pollution in Narragansett Bay, and preserve our open spaces. He helped establish the Narragansett Bay Commission, designed to systematically address outdated municipal sewerage systems which was a crucial step to preserve the wonders of our Bay and shoreline.

He had a vision for the state and led programs to attract high tech business and played a significant role in plans to revitalize downtown Providence through his work with the Capital Center Commission.

Throughout his administration and for the next three decades Governor Garrahy advocated for innovative public transit transportation initiatives.

In his final days in office he launched The Greenhouse Compact, which was a bold economic revitalization plan, proposed to create 60,000 high paying jobs and lay the foundation to combat the dying manufacturing base of Rhode Island.  Although the Compact was not approved by wary voters concerned about initiative’s price tag, today, many of its proposals have come to fruition – certainly a tribute to Governor Garrahy and his great vision.

Joe Garrahy was a leader you wanted in control during a time of adversity and the great Blizzard of ‘78 will forever stand out as a milestone. For nearly a week Rhode Island was crippled by a catastrophic storm and it was the voice of Governor Garrahy who quelled our fears and gave us confidence that all that could be done was in his capable hands.   In a time of great turmoil and tragedy, he assured us that help was on the way; and we believed him.   And, that famous plaid shirt – it left an inedible image in our minds, and remains a symbol of his quiet strength and effective leadership.

Governor Garrahy was perhaps one of the most decent men I have ever met.  He was genuine and had a true moral compass.  The Governor always saw the goodness in everyone; he believed that every situation had a silver lining.  He was a man of deep faith who worked hard, remained eternally optimistic and had a compassionate spirit that knew no bounds.  A noble public servant, his steadfast leadership, sense of purpose and responsibility, and quiet humility graced our state. 

Joe Garrahy had a winning personality, and a marvelous sense of humor.  He was friendly, loyal and caring beyond measure.  He took a genuine interest in everyone he knew – and even those he just met in a brief passing.  Whenever you were with the Governor you always left him feeling a bit better about yourself, and about the world.  His fondness for people and for helping others was his hallmark - and that generous and endearing spirit won him a special place in the hearts of all Rhode Islanders. 

But, Joe Garrahy loved his family above all else. He was a devoted husband, father and “Poppy” and we remember them too in this time of great loss and profound sadness.

I join with my fellow Rhode Islanders in offering my heartfelt sympathy to his loving wife Margherite, and his wonderful family; Colleen and Michael Mahoney, their children Ryan and Michaela; John and Barbara Cottam Garrahy and their daughters, Katherine and Elizabeth; Maribeth and Robert Hardman and their son Wesley; Sheila and Gregory Mitchell and their children, CJ, Todd and Chad; and Seana and Michael Edwards and their children, Drew, Brayden and Ellie Rose.

We will miss him; but his legacy and his personal example of kindness and good will continue to sustain and inspire us.  Today, we celebrate his life and in the days, weeks and years to come we will remember him fondly as one of Rhode Island’s greatest Governors.  We are all the better for having Joe Garrahy in our “Biggest Little State.”