Former Rhode Island Governor Ed DiPrete Dies at 91

Edward Daniel DiPrete, former governor of Rhode Island and longtime public servant, died peacefully at his home in Cranston on July 8th at the age of 91 after celebrating his birthday with family. DiPrete served as Rhode Island's governor from 1985 to 1991 and was previously mayor of Cranston, noted for his bipartisan approach and focus on education and infrastructure. His political career was later marred by a guilty plea to bribery charges related to state contracts, for which he served a year in prison. Despite the scandal, DiPrete was remembered as an "everyman" figure who worked across party lines and valued family deeply, often taking vacations with his large family. His funeral services were scheduled for July 11th in Cranston. DiPrete's legacy includes both his achievements in office and the controversies that followed, reflecting a complex public life dedicated to Rhode Island.