PROVIDENCE – The Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame will induct nine Rhode Islanders at its 54th annual induction ceremony, its board of directors announced Thursday.
The ceremony will take place on May 5, at the Crown Plaza Providence-Warwick in Warwick at 5 p.m.
The 2018 inductees include:
- Judge Francis J. Darigan Jr. – A retired Superior Court justice, former president of the Catholic Youth Organization and co-founder and first president of Justice Assistance
- Kenneth R. Dooley – Author, playwright and biographer
- Former U.S. Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy – Eight-term congressman, state legislator, founder of two international mental health advocacy organizations
- Ronald K. Machtley – Three-term U.S. representative, long-time president of Bryant University
- Ronald R. S. Picerne – Real estate developer who leads a family foundation granting college scholarships
- James P. Riley – labor organizer, chairman of Occupational and Environmental Center in Rhode Island
- Rudolph E. Tanzi – Joseph P. and Rose F. Kennedy Professor of Neurology at Harvard University, director of the Genetics and Aging Research Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital, one of leading authorities on Alzheimer’s Disease
- Spencer W. Viner – Labor attorney, winner of Bronze Star in Vietnam, president of the Rhode Island Japan-American Society, recipient of the Order of the Rising Sun Medal from the Emperor of Japan
- Patrice Wood – Longest-serving newscaster in Rhode Island television history, promoter of charitable endeavors, especially in the area of child adoption
This year, the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame board Vice President Albert Beauparlant is event and dinner chairman and Director Michael Lyons is master of ceremonies. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m.
The Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame was established in 1965 to “honor any individual who has brought credit to Rhode Island, brought Rhode Island into prominence, and contributed to the history and heritage of the state.”
Tickets can be ordered by emailing somravanh@gmail.com or calling (401) 556-6174.
Chris Bergenheim is the PBN web editor.
