Cheryl Snead, CEO of Banneker Industries has died. Snead has been one of RI's tops business leaders and a member of numerous business on government boards. She was 59-years-old.

According to official bio:

Cheryl W. Snead is the President, Chief Executive Officer and Facilities Security Officer of Banneker Industries, Inc. a world-class provider of Supply Chain Management solutions including logistics headquartered in North Smithfield, Rhode Island with operations across the United States.

READ MORE HERE

One of Rhode Island's most influential developers, Alfred Carpionato, died Saturday at the age of 75.

The Carpionato Group which he headed confirmed his death.  

He was responsible for building Chapel View in Cranston and the Crowne Plaza in Warwick.

Carpionato led the third generation property development company for more than six decades. He passed away peacefully surrounded by his family and loved ones. He was 75 years old.

He is survived by his wife Sheryl (Costantino) Carpionato who has been by his side for the past 30 years, his sisters Iliana Luchka and Attilia Renzi and his children Domenic and Louis Carpionato. He was born in Providence, Rhode Island and was the son of the late Louis and Anna Carpionato. READ MORE HERE

John McCain, Naval Academy grad, Vietnam POW, U.S. Senator and the GOP Presidential nominee, is dead at 81-years-old.

McCain died of brain cancer on Saturday.

"It's been quite a ride. I've known great passions, seen amazing wonders, fought in a war, and helped make peace," McCain wrote. "I've lived very well and I've been deprived of all comforts. I've been as lonely as a person can be and I've enjoyed the company of heroes. I've suffered the deepest despair and experienced the highest exultation.

"I made a small place for myself in the story of America and the history of my times."

READ MORE HERE

Former First Lady of the United States Barbara Bush passed away on Tuesday at the age of 92.  

Bush was the wife of George H. W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States, and served as the First Lady of the United States from 1989 to 1993 -- and became the second First Lady to be a mother of a U.S. President, George W. Bush. 

RI Officials Weigh in

"Barbara Bush was an inspiration to a generation of Americans. I remember being in high school and college watching this strong woman in the national spotlight unafraid to speak her mind - a woman who championed causes like civil rights and education. Her legacy and influence remains as strong today as ever, and my thoughts and prayers are with the Bush family this evening," said Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo.

READ MORE HERE

Retired Providence Bishop Robert Mulvee passed away at the age of 88.

He died at St. Antoine Residence in North Smithfield following an illness.

According to the diocese, funeral arrangements will be announced as soon as they are finalized.

About Mulvee

Mulvee was born in Boston in 1930 and ordained in 1957 at the Diocese of Manchester New Hampshire.

He joined the Diocese of Providence in 1995 before being named the seventh Bishop of Providence on June 11, 1997.

Mulvee served as Bishop until he retired in February of 2005.

READ MORE HERE

Comic book legend Stan Lee passed away at the age of 95.

According to TMZ, Lee was rushed to the hospital where he passed away.

Lee had suffered from multiple illnesses over the last year including pneumonia, as well as, issues with his vision.

Lee came to Rhode Island Comic-Con in 2016.

About Lee

Lee along with artists Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko created the Marvel Comics universe which includes characters such as The Amazing Spider-Man, Incredible Hulk, Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Thor, X- men and many others.

READ MORE HERE

Healthcare expert Amy Gallagher passes at age 51. For a number of years, she was a valued contributor to GoLocal writing about healthcare and business.

She had more than two decades of healthcare industry experience guiding employers and employees. As Vice President at Cornerstone Group, she advised large employers on all aspects of healthcare reform, benefit solutions, cost-containment strategies, and results-driven wellness programs.

"Amy was a remarkable thinker and writer. It was such a pleasure having her write for us and provide the market with the smartest insights. She made a difference with everyone she touched," said Josh Fenton, CEO and co-Founder of GoLocal24.

Gallagher regularly presented on a variety of healthcare-related topics, and was often quoted by national publications on the subject matter. Locally, Amy was a member of SHRM-RI, the Rhode Island Business Group on Health, and the Rhode Island Business Healthcare Advisory Council.

READ MORE HERE

Josefina "Doña Fefa" Rosario passed away at the age of 90 on Thursday, December 13.

Rosario is credited with helping launch the first wave of immigration from the Dominican Republic to the United States in 1955.

Rosario and her husband Tony are all credited with sponsoring families to come to the U.S. and gave them free room and board until they were able to find jobs.

READ MORE HERE

The New York Times first reported that Nancy Wilson died.

She played at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1987. 

“Wilson, whose skilled and flexible approach to singing provided a key bridge between the sophisticated jazz-pop vocalists of the 1950s and the powerhouse pop-soul singers of the 1960s and ’70s, died on Thursday at her home in Pioneertown, Calif. She was 81,” reports the Times.

“I have a gift for telling stories, making them seem larger than life,” she told The Los Angeles Times in 1993. “I love the vignette, the plays within the song.”

“A forerunner of the modern female empowerment singer, with the brassy inflections and biting inflections to fuel it, Ms. Wilson could infuse even the saddest song with a sense of strength.

READ MORE HERE

CNN confirmed that Anthony Bourdain, the award-winning storyteller and writer has died. He was 61.

Bourdain's death was suicide.

His suicide comes just days after fashion designer Kate Spade took her own life in her New York City apartment.

"It is with extraordinary sadness we can confirm the death of our friend and colleague, Anthony Bourdain," the network said in a statement Friday morning. "His love of great adventure, new friends, fine food and drink and the remarkable stories of the world made him a unique storyteller. His talents never ceased to amaze us and we will miss him very much. Our thoughts and prayers are with his daughter and family at this incredibly difficult time."

READ MORE HERE

American designer Kate Spade died in her New York apartment on, according to police.

Spade, who was 55, was found unresponsive inside her Park Avenue apartment after hanging herself by a red scarf attached to her bedroom doorknob, the New York Times reported. 

According to police, she left a note, however, officials did not reveal what it said.

About Spade

Spade got her start by working for the women’s magazine “Mademoiselle” in the 80’s.

Then, along with her husband, she launched Kate Spade Handbags in 1993. READ MORE HERE

Director and Laverne & Shirley actress Penny Marshall has passed away at the age of 75.

Marshall died due to complications from diabetes at her home in Hollywood Hills on Monday night.

“Our family is heartbroken over the passing of Penny Marshall. Penny was a girl from the Bronx who came out West, put a cursive ‘L’ on her sweater and transformed herself into a Hollywood success story. We hope her life continues to inspire others,”  the family said in a statement to the New York Post.

Marshall leaves behind her older sister Ronny, daughter Tracy Reiner and three grandchildren.

READ MORE HERE

The leading American socialite has passed. GoLocalProv learned and was first to report that Bailey’s Beach Club — the Sprouting Rock Beach Association —  notified its members that Marion “Oatsie” Charles has died.

Charles’ friends included Doris Duke, Washington Post owner Katharine Graham, author Ian Fleming and Presidents from John F. Kennedy to George H.W. Bush.

A 2008 Vanity Fair featured Charles and her history and influence as an America socialite.

“Last week I had the opportunity to talk with legendary Washington, D.C., hostess and Newport society fixture Oatsie Charles. At 88 years old, she stands almost entirely alone as a representative of the Protestant establishment of her time. Oatsie’s sociable personality prevents her from mourning the passing years and the end of her stately aristocratic way of life,” wrote Jamie Johnson in a Vanity Fair feature about Charles in 2008.

READ MORE HERE

One of the top union leaders in Rhode Island history, Gerald "Jerry" Blinkhorn, who led the Teamsters 251, has died. 

Read his obituary below:

Blinkhorn, Gerald “Jerry”, 80, died Saturday, December 1st, 2018 at Rhode Island Hospital. He was the beloved husband of Amalia A. (DeVecchis) Blinkhorn. Born in Providence, he was the son of the late Ernest and Jannette (Levesque) Blinkhorn.

Jerry became a Teamster in 1964 organizing Roger Williams Grocery where he served as the shop steward. In 1977, he was elected Business Agent for Teamsters Local 251. He served as a Business Agent until 1982 when he was elected Secretary-Treasurer and served in that capacity until his retirement in 1995. His career in the Teamsters was filled with a multitude of accomplishments. He served on the Eastern Region Automobile Transporters negotiating and grievance and arbitration panel, National Automobile Transporters negotiating committee, the UPS New England Supplemental and the National UPS negotiating and grievance and arbitration panels, the New England Supplemental and Eastern Region negotiating and arbitration panels.

READ MORE HERE

George H.W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States, has died at the age of 94.

In addition to serving as President, he was Vice President of the United States, headed the CIA, served in Congress and was the father of the 43rd president, to list just a number of his professional accomplishments.

Bush served in the United States Navy during World War II, was shot down over the Pacific, and was heavily decorated. Bush had logged 1,228 hours of flight time, 126 carrier landings and 58 combat missions. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the U.S. Navy Air Medal with two gold stars, according to his military record.

He was the last of the “greatest generation” to serve as President — those that lived through the Great Depression and served in World War II.

His wife of 73 years, Barbara Bush, died on April 17 and he had suffered from Parkinson’s Disease since 2012. The Bushs had five children, 17 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

READ MORE HERE

SpongeBob SquarePants creator Stephen Hillenburg passed away at the age of 57.

He died from ALS, which he was diagnosed with in March of 2017.

“We are sad to share the news of the passing of Stephen Hillenburg, the creator of SpongeBob Squarepants. Today, we are observing a moment of silence to honor his life and work,” said Nickelodeon in a statement on Twitter.

About Hillenburg

Hillenburg was a nine-time Emmy nominee for SpongeBob, however, he never won. READ MORE HERE

Soul music legend Aretha Franklin died at the age of 76 at her home in Detroit.

Earlier in the week, members of her family told the media that she was “gravely ill,” and was asking for prayers.

About Franklin

In her career, Franklin recorded a total of 112 charted singles on Billboard, including 77 Hot 100 entries, 17 top ten pop singles, 100 R&Bentries and 20 number-one R&B singles, becoming the most charted female artist in the chart's history.

After signing with Atlantic Records in 1967, Franklin achieved success with songs such as "Respect", "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman", "Spanish Harlem" and "Think."

By the end of the 1960s she had gained the title "The Queen of Soul.” READ MORE HERE

Former New England Patriots offensive lineman Kenyatta Jones has died at the age of 39.

According to the Tampa Bay Times, Jones died of cardiac arrest on Saturday in Colorado.

Jones played a total of 21 NFL games in his career.

Jones With New England

Jones was a fourth-round pick of the Patriots in 2001 and helped the team defeat the St. Louis Rams in the Super Bowl later that season.

He played 11 games for New England the following season before having surgery on both knees in 2003 and was placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.

That October, Jones was arrested for allegedly pouring scalding hot water on two people.

The Patriots released him five days later. 

Jones would go on to play three games with the Washington Redskins in 2004, but would not appear in another NFL game.

Roger Williams University President Donald Farish passed away of a sudden illness while at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, according to a press release from the university.

Farish served as the 10th president of the university and announced in May that he would be retiring in June of 2019.

“Don Farish will be honored beyond the campus for his clear-eyed understanding of the challenges faced by higher education and his bold proposals to meet them. At the University, he will be remembered for his eloquence, intelligence, wit and for his deep concern for our students,” said RWU Provost Andrew Workman.

READ MORE HERE

Legendary New England Patriots radio play-by-play man Gil Santos died at the age of 78, the Patriots confirmed.

“When I think about some of the happiest moments of my professional life, Gil Santos’ legendary voice is prominently there. And he was a class act to boot,” said former Patriot Matt Chatham on Twitter.

About Santos

Starting in 1966, Santos called Patriots games for 36 seasons before announcing his retirement after the 2012 season.

Santos’ 36 years of service with the Patriots made him the longest-serving announcer in the NFL, tied with Merrill Reese of the Philadelphia Eagles.

He was also the final team play-by-play announcer from the American Football League era.

Santos was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2013.

READ MORE HERE

The BBC reported Professor Stephen Hawking: "He died peacefully at his home in Cambridge, his family said.

While not an American, he was one of the most important scientists in world history.

The British scientist was famed for his work with black holes and relativity, and wrote several popular science books including A Brief History of Time.

At the age of 22, Hawking was given only a few years to live after being diagnosed with a rare form of motor neurone disease."

READ THE OFFICIAL BIOGRAPHY FROM THE HAWKING ORGANIZATION: READ MORE HERE

Colin Kroll, co-founder and CEO of the popular HQ Trivia app, was found dead in his apartment by the New York Police Department. He was 34. 

Kroll sold Vine to Twitter and then co-founded HQ Trivia — an app which has dominated the App Store and became a global sensation.

“An NYPD spokesperson confirmed Kroll's death to USA TODAY. The department was conducting a wellness check on Kroll when it found him in his apartment. He was pronounced "dead on arrival" at 12:18 a.m. ET in what is believed to be a possible drug overdose,” reported the paper.

HQ Trivia Tweeted, “We learned today of the passing of our friend and founder, Colin Kroll, and it's with deep sadness that we say goodbye. Our thoughts go out to his family, friends and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.

On January 5, 2018, the New York Times reported on the explosion of HQ Trivia.

"On New Year’s Eve, I went to dinner in Los Angeles to close out 2017 with friends. Naturally, the meal ended with me white-knuckling my phone, my eyeballs glued open and my mind laser-focused on spitting up ephemeral internet trivia like who is the most followed celebrity on Instagram (Selena Gomez) or which book topped Goodreads’ best-of list in 2017 (“Little Fires Everywhere”). That’s because, just as the check arrived, HQ beckoned: The live trivia app had announced a surprise game, and if I wanted a shot at answering 12 multiple-choice questions and vying for a share of the $18,000 pot, I had to tap in instantly.

Karen A. Oakley, a Newport businesswoman, world traveler, and dedicated volunteer, passed away unexpectedly but peacefully, surrounded by her family, at Rhode Island Hospital on Dec. 9, 2018.

She was an owner of Viking Tours of Newport, the sightseeing company her father founded in 1962. She was a teenager when she began working as a guide, boarding motor coaches from throughout the East Coast and offering historical and humorous tours of Newport.  After completing college and gaining some business experience as a boutique owner in downtown Newport, she joined her parents and brother in the management of the family-operated enterprise.

READ MORE HERE

John Thomas "Big John" Leyden, 87, of Coventry and Florida, passed away surrounded by his loving family on Sunday, December 23, 2018. He was the beloved husband of 62 years to Arlene (Moan) Leyden. 

Born in East Greenwich, he was a son of the late Matthew J. and Mary (Pryor) Leyden. 

John believed in God, Family and Country. His greatest joy was his family. He served in Korea where he earned the rank of Sargent in the US Army. Taking advantage of the GI Bill he attended URI where he met the love of his life, Arlene. He went on to teach Agricultural Education and the FFA (Future Farmers of America) at Scituate Junior-Senior High School. John taught for 30 years and impacted countless lives through his award-winning programs as an educator, coach and mentor, where he was fondly known as Chief. He received the RI Teacher of the year award in 1975. 

He and his wife purchased 100 acres in West Greenwich, RI and started Big John Leyden's Christmas Tree Farm in 1974. With his larger than life personality, he became a national spokesperson for real trees and appeared on The CBS Early Show for 18 years. He became famous for his opening line "WELCOME, WELCOME, WELCOME and Real Trees for Real People."

READ MORE HERE

Suzanne Carcieri, the wife of former Rhode Island Governor Donald Carcieri, has passed away. 

Don Carcieri was the 73rd Governor of Rhode Island, serving from January 2003 to January 2011.

The Carcieri family moved to Kingston, Jamaica, in 1981 to work for Catholic Relief Services before returning to Rhode Island two years later, when Don Carcieri worked for the Cookson Group. 

In 2015, the state's former First Lady was added to the Wall of Honor at East Greenwich High School for her service to Rhode Island.

Mrs. Carcieri was 76 years old. READ MORE HERE

Former Providence City Councilwoman Carol Romano passed away at the age of 78.

Romano passed away on Friday, November 9.

Read Romano’s Obituary From Pontarelli-Marino Funeral Home Below

ROMANO, CAROL A. (VOLPE) 78, passed away November 9, 2018. She was the wife of the late John B. Romano, daughter of the late Mario and Gilda (DiNunzio) Volpe, aunt of Jami (Volpe) Coletta and her husband Steven; great-aunt of Lola and London; sister of the late William "Billy" Volpe. She is also survived by several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. 

READ MORE HERE

Microsoft Co-Founder Paul Allen has passed away at the age of 65 due to cancer at his home in Seattle on Monday.

Allen’s death comes less than a month after he announced that he began treatment for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, the type of cancer that he beat nine years earlier.

“Paul Allen’s contributions to our company, our industry and to our community are indispensable. As co-founder of Microsoft, in his own quiet and persistent way, he created magical products, experiences and institutions, and in doing so, he changed the world. I have learned so much from him - his inquisitiveness, curiosity, and push for high standards is something that will continue to inspired me and all of us at Microsoft. Our hearts are with Paul’s family and loved ones. Rest in peace,” said Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella in a  statement.

READ MORE HERE

Ray Fogarty, a former Rhode Island State Representative and Director for the Chafee Center for International Business, RI Export Assistance Center, and World Trade Center RI at Bryant University, has passed away.

Prior to the creation of the Rhode Island Export Assistance Center (RIEAC) in 1988, Fogarty was Associate Director of Bryant College’s Small Business Development Center (1983-1988). Earlier, he was Assistant Controller at Bryant College (1979-1983).

Fogarty was a Bryant College graduate. 

READ MORE HERE

Rhode Island realtor Melanie Delman, President and Owner of Lila Delman Real Estate International, has passed away. 

Delman took over the helm from her mother, Lila, who founded Lila Delman Real Estate International in 1964. 

“Melanie and I have always believed that working collaboratively with skilled Sales Associates garners the best results for the growing needs of our clients,” said John Hodnett of the company in a statement. “Her story will live on with the exceptional efforts of our seasoned Sales Team and Lila Delman Real Estate.”

“Melanie had been in the battle of her life for years, and battling with the utmost strength and dignity,” expressed Melanie’s sister, Pamela Delman-Hodnett. “We will honor my sister’s memory by dedicating ourselves to continuing the work she loved so much.” 

READ MORE HERE

Former Providence College hockey defenseman Mark Adams passed away suddenly on Monday, September 17.

He was 27 years old.

"Our program is heartbroken with the passing of Mark. He was a great teammate and a special part of our entire community. Our thoughts and prayers are with his entire family,” said PC hockey head coach Nate Leaman in a statement.

READ MORE HERE

NEA Jazz Master and Doris Duke Impact Award winner Rand Weston passed away at the age of 92.

"We lost a true musical giant, innovator and a warrior for the elevation of African-American pride and culture. Randy's compositions disseminating the richness and beauty of the African aesthetic are unparalleled,” said TK Blue, Weston’s musical director.

The death was announced by his wife and business partner Fatoumata Weston.

Arrangements are forthcoming and will be announced soon.

READ MORE HERE

The founder of downtown Providence bookstore "Cellar Stories Bookstore" has passed away. 

A Facebook post on the store's page announced the passing of Michael Chandley, who founded the business at 111 Westminster Street that calls itself the largest rare and used bookstore in Rhode Island. 

READ MORE HERE

Robert Whitcomb column: Tom Wolfe’s death last week at 88 made me think of New York City in the ‘60s (when I was there a lot and it still looked like the Imperial City that it was in the ‘50s); the seedy ‘70s (when I lived there for a while), and the hyper ‘80s (when I followed, as a finance editor, the start of the Second Gilded Age, which continues to this day).

Although he was a courtly Virginian, Wolfe captured Manhattan’s sordidness, glamour and craziness perhaps better than anyone else in the group of “new journalists’’ who came out of the New York Herald Tribune-spawned New York Magazine.  (I was a  loyal Herald Trib subscriber.) Wolfe, whom I met, was a quietly relentless reporter – a man of vast imagination and with a powerful work ethic. In one way or another he always seemed to be working.

READ MORE HERE

Reverend Dr. Don Anderson with the Rhode Island State Council of Churches joined GoLocal News Editor Kate Nagle in studio to discuss the passing of American evangelical leader Billy Graham at the age of 99. 

WATCH THE REST OF THE INTERVIEW HERE

Anderson spoke to Graham's legacy of bringing varied religions together, instituting best practices for fiscal management for churches, and speaking in what Anderson said was plain language in a way that appealed to a broad audience.

Anderson also spoke to the more darker elements of Graham's legacy, including tapes of anti-Semitic remarks with President Nixon -- and how Anderson sees Graham's son as shunning his father's inclusive nature to be exclusionary of non-Christian religions.  
 

Other notable Rhode Islanders:

Robert Reichley, Brown University Top Official

David Dumas, RI State Representative