William A. Dimitri Jr.

DIMITRI, THE HONORABLE WILLIAM A., JR., of North Providence passed away June 3, 2006 surrounded by his wife and children. He was the loving husband of Carlene F. (Merola) Dimitri and the cherished father of Carlene Gadigian and her husband Michael, Doreen Picozzi and her husband Joe, William C. and his wife Lisa, and Carl J. and his wife Gina. He is also survived by his beloved grandchildren: Michael, Andrew, Joseph and Angelica.

An Associate Justice of the Rhode Island Superior Court, he was appointed to the bench in 1996. Prior to his elevation to Superior Court, he maintained a private practice for 30 years and was listed as one of 'The Best Lawyers in America' every year from 1989 to 1996. He served with distinction as Chief of the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney's Office for four years. He served the Rhode Island Department of Attorney General from 1967 to 1973, where he also served as Chief to the Criminal Division. He served the towns of West Warwick and Burrillville as Town Solicitor during his years in private practice.

He was chairman of the Board for the Southern New England School of Law (which awarded him an Honorary Doctorate in 1999), where he had previously been a professor of law. He also taught criminal justice at Roger Williams University and Salve Regina University. He was a member of the Rhode Island Bar Association, the Bar for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and was admitted to practice in the U.S. District Courts for Rhode Island and Massachusetts, the First and Second Courts of Appeal. He was also a past member of the American Trial Lawyers Association, Federal Bar Association, the National and Rhode Island Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, the National District Attorneys Association, and he served on various committees for those organizations. After an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army in 1953, he studied at Providence College and Boston University School of Law and graduated from the New England School of Law.

He was the son of the late William A. and Catherine (Jackvony) Dimitri, and the brother of Dolores Salvato of Morgan Hill, California. He was also the brother-in-law of Anthony, Paddy, Andrew and Ralph Merola, and was the beloved uncle of many nieces and nephews.

His funeral will be held on Wednesday, June 7th at 8:30 AM from the A.A. MARIANI & Son Funeral Home, 200 Hawkins Street, Providence, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 AM in The Church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 1081 Mineral Spring Avenue in North Providence. Calling hours will be held Tuesday, June 6th from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Burial with military honors in St. Ann Cemetery, Cranston.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 1081 Mineral Spring Avenue, North Providence, RI 02904 or Home and Hospice Care of Rhode Island, 169 George Street, Pawtucket, RI 02860.