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LABOISSONNIERE, RICHARD E. “DICK” passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 23, 2022 with his family by his side. He was 91 years old. Dick was the only child of Alcida and Laura (Frenette) Laboissonniere. He is survived by
his wife of 69 years, Harriet (Jacobson), his four children - Michael (Audrey), Carleen DeSisto, Laurie
Urwin (John) and Sandra Colafrancesco, his seven grandchildren - Amy Sousa (Matthew), Laura Sabia
(Frank), Kevin Urwin (Ashley), Leah Fraser (Robert), Amanda Colafrancesco (Nick DiSandro) and Christina
Palmer (Jen) and his nine great grandchildren - Jason, Allison, Elizabeth, Rowan, Claire, Zachary,
Gabriella, William and Gavin. He was preceded in death by his grandson John H. Urwin III and son-in-law
Ronald DeSisto.
Dick graduated from WWHS in 1949. He and Harriet were high school sweethearts. They celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary on July 4, 2022.
As a young man, Dick was a page for the bishop, which made his mother and father extremely proud. He
was an accomplished athlete playing both football and baseball in high school. He pitched a no hitter
while he played baseball for the American Legion. He was also a championship bowler for the Phoenix
Arco bowling team.
Dick was a talented musician. He was a masterful concert violinist. Dick played violin in the RI
Philharmonic Orchestra as well as at many weddings and events.
Dick joined the Navy during the Korean War. He was stationed on the USS Kepler, one of the first ships
with sonar, for four years from 1951-1955. He worked as a lace weaver before joining Star City Glass,
later known as National Bottle, until it closed in 1981 as a production manager. He relocated to Perry, GA to
continue his career at Midland Glass before returning to Rhode Island.
Dick was also devoted to his community. He was a member of the West Warwick Wizards, Jaycees, and
Lions Club. He helped his wife with many projects including fund raising for the PTA and girls’ softball
teams. He was a lifetime member of Club Jogues. Dick was an active member of Club Frontenac serving
two terms as president as well as being on the bowling team and participating in the horseshoe and
pitch leagues. He also made chowder for their yearly clam bakes for many years.
Dick was a founder and charter member of the West Warwick Steelers Pop Warner Football League. He
also was a baseball coach for his son Michael through Little League and Babe Ruth. He devoted a great
deal of time to his players and earned the respect of both players and parents. To this day, many former
players continue to show their respect by still referring to him as Mr. Laboissonniere.
Dick was an avid golfer. He and his wife were members of Valley Country Club in West Warwick as well
as the Houston Lake Country Club in Perry, GA. Dick and Harriet enjoyed many vacations with their golf
buddies, especially Bob and Jean Holmes. One of Dick’s fondest memories was hitting a hole-in-one at
Valley Country Club on May 23, 1976. He was an avid sports fan – rooting for the Patriots and the Red Sox.
Dick was a kind and generous person, and he had a very gentle soul. He was always willing to help
purchase sporting equipment for a child who was in need, and he was quick to lend an ear to anyone
who needed someone to talk to. Dick had a wonderful sense of humor – he was always trying to get a
smile or laugh out of someone. He was extremely devoted to his family. He passed his good work ethic
onto all his children and was extremely proud of all of them.
His funeral will be Friday, July 29, 2022 at 9 am from the IANNOTTI Funeral Home, 415 Washington, St. (Rte.117) Coventry, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 am in Saints John & James Church. Interment with military honors at the RI Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Visiting hours Thursday evening 4 - 7 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the John H. Urwin III Memorial Scholarship Fund, ℅ Laurie & John Urwin, 169 Princeton Ave., Coventry, RI 02816 or Beacon Hospice, 1130 Ten Rod Rd., Ste. A205, North Kingstown, RI 02852. iannottifh.com
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