2025 -- S 0218
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
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S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N
EXPRESSING DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF GEORGE MARTELL
EGAN
Introduced By: Senators Murray, and Thompson
Date Introduced: February 10, 2025
Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar
WHEREAS, It is with deep sadness that this Senate has learned of the passing of George 1
Martell Egan of Woonsocket. Born and raised in Woonsocket, George Martell Egan was the son 2
of the late George W. Egan and Louise Egan; and 3
WHEREAS, George Martell Egan was a graduate of Mount Saint Charles Academy, 4
where he excelled at ice hockey. He went on to graduate from Dean Junior College, Rockford 5
College and Rhode Island College. At Dean College, Mr. Egan organized the school’s hockey 6
team, served as its first head coach, obtained uniforms from Lou Pieri, the famous former owner 7
of the Providence Reds Ice Hockey Team. Mr. Egan was also a photographer for the Dean 8
yearbook and newspaper; and 9
WHEREAS, In 1959, Mr. Egan was drafted into the United States Army. He was 10
assigned to the Missile Technician School at the Redstone Arsenal, U.S. Space and Technical 11
Center in Huntsville, Alabama, and was later assigned to serve at Fort Sill in Oklahoma. In all of 12
his duties, Mr. Egan served our nation with honor and distinction; and 13
WHEREAS, Upon returning home from his military obligations, Mr. Egan began his 14
long and distinguished public service career in education when he accepted a position to be a 15
teacher in Bellingham, Massachusetts. After obtaining a Master’s degree in Counseling from 16
Rhode Island College, Mr. Egan worked with distinction and tireless devotion as a guidance 17
counselor and school administrator at both Coventry Middle School and Coventry High School, 18
retiring as an Assistant Principal. Mr. Egan was noted for his assertive, commanding presence 19
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and booming voice which allowed him to command the behavior of a bunch of loud teenagers in 1
an auditorium. He was also beloved for the kindness and compassion he brought with him to 2
school every day. He made a positive difference in the lives of countless youngsters; and 3
WHEREAS, George Egan also had a long and successful career as an ice hockey coach, 4
at both Ponaganset and Coventry High Schools. He was twice named Hockey Coach of the Year 5
by the Rhode Island High School Coaches Association, and led Ponaganset to the 1983 Suburban 6
Division Championship and Coventry to the 1996 and 2003 Metropolitan-B Division 7
Championships. Mr. Egan also served as the Athletic Director of Coventry High School, was the 8
President of the Rhode Island Hockey Coaches Association from 1996 to 2004, and later served 9
as the Rhode Island Interscholastic League Director of Hockey; and 10
WHEREAS, George Egan is a member of the Coventry High School Athletic Hall of 11
Fame, the Rhode Island Interscholastic League Hall of Fame, and was the recipient of the Frank 12
Lanning Achievement Award from the Rhode Island sports news organization Words Unlimited; 13
and 14
WHEREAS, As a youngster, Mr. Egan joined the Boy Scouts and spent every summer at 15
Camp Yawgoog. Passionate about the virtues of scouting, Mr. Egan devoted 25 years of his life 16
serving as an Adult Supervisor and Counselor for the Boy Scouts, serving on the camp’s staff, 17
and as the Medicine Bow Camp Director, where he was a beloved figure and earned the fond 18
nickname “the Great Pumpkin”. In recognition of the indelible mark Mr. Egan made in the hearts 19
and memories of so many Camp Yawgoog figures, when the camp launched its campaign to raise 20
funds for its 100th Anniversary, dozens of staff members joined together to raise $100,000, 21
marked by a commemorative monument at the camp’s central flagpole in honor of Mr. Egan’s 22
many years of dedication and service to Camp Yawgoog and the Boy Scouts; and 23
WHEREAS, Mr. Egan leaves behind his siblings Joanne E. Shea, Andrea E. Didden, and 24
her husband, Albert, Reverend Thomas F. Egan, and Jay A. Egan, his nephews and nieces, 25
Christopher Shea, Angie Shea, Andrea Shea Cirbee, Stephen Cirbee, Daniel Shea, Deborah Shea, 26
Jason Didden, Amy Didden, Joanna Shea O’Brien, and Justin O’Brien. Mr. Egan also leaves 27
behind 17 grandnieces and grandnephews, and six great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews; 28
now, therefore be it 29
RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby expresses its deepest 30
condolences on the passing of George Martell Egan; and be it further 31
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to 32
transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Joanne E. Shea, Andrea E. Didden, Reverend 33
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Thomas F. Egan, and Jay A. Egan. 1
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