July 9, 2025

Contact: executivedirector@ri.gop

Statement from Rhode Island GOP Chairman Joe Powers on the Passing of Governor Edward “Ed” DiPrete

WARWICK, RI – Rhode Island Republican Party Chairman Joe Powers today issued the following statement on the passing of former Governor Edward D. DiPrete:

“It is with a deep sense of respect and reflection that we mark the passing of former Governor Edward DiPrete—a dedicated public servant whose legacy stretches across decades of Rhode Island history.

As a lifelong Cranston resident, I knew him not just as Governor, but first as my Mayor. He was a fixture in the civic life of our community and a presence in local politics during my formative years. Governor DiPrete embodied the kind of leadership that believed in rolling up your sleeves, knowing your neighbors, and putting Rhode Island first.

From the Cranston School Committee to the State House, Ed DiPrete gave much of his life to the people of Rhode Island. His three terms as Governor during the 1980s marked an era of economic focus and pragmatic governance.

Just yesterday, many of us were wishing him a happy 91st birthday, a reminder of the lasting impact he had on those who knew him and the state he served.

He leaves behind a family who stood by him and a generation who knew him as a determined leader. On behalf of the Rhode Island Republican Party, we extend our deepest condolences to his loved ones.

May he be remembered for his decades of commitment to public service, and may he rest in peace.”