Tara Granahan –
Having covered Buddy during his mayoral reign as a reporter, and then worked along side him these last few years… It’s been quite a ride.
The common theme? Never a dull moment!
Saying Buddy was “larger than life” is a complete understatement.
I can attest to this: He loved his city of Providence and he loved his family and friends.
… and that’s the Bottom Line.
Gene Valicenti –
He was a pleasure to cover. He never refused an interview or ducked a question. He never gave you the bum’s rush, unlike some of our more “refined” politicians today
He worked retail; shaking hands, remembering names, and remembering your brother in law.
I laughed every time I was with him, whether it was covering a wacky feud with the actress Carol Channing, or the opening of the Providence Place Mall. Even the trial!
I cracked up at the zingers: “The toe you step on today, may be connected to the behind you have to kiss tomorrow.”
“I can find 500 dollars worth of a damage on a brand new Rolls Royce.”
“There are no stains on this jacket!”
He had a nasty side. I never saw it, but plenty of people did. He went to prison for betraying the public’s trust. I have no quarrel with the verdict.
He’s a mixed bag, and history will tell us if we were better off with him or without him.
So far today, the flood of memories and kind words favors him. So he’d say: let’s vote today!
Napoleon was no angel, but Paris owes its beauty to his architectural vision, and city plan, It’s his Napoleonic code of law, and his royal N everywhere that reminds of us of the emperor’s indelible impact on the city.
Buddy was no Napoleon, and Buddy was no angel, but when you’re in Providence, we’ll see his hand and vision and impact for years to come.
The tombstone of the great literary son of the Providence HP Lovecraft reads “I am Providence.” Buddy’s ought to read that as well.
John DePetro –
“Buddy Cianci made the city very exciting to cover.”
Dan Yorke –
“It’s a difficult day for many people in the community. We are talking about an individual who was recognized by his first name. There’s only a few people in this state who you can say that about. It is almost impossible to provide the right words. There’s nothing that one could write that rises to the level of Buddy Cianci’s impact on the community.”
Matt Allen –
“I worked with Buddy as a producer for a short time before he went to serve his sentence in 2002 and as a host following his show for the past 8 years. I only wish that Rhode Islanders could have heard the stories and information he had off the air. He lived his life to the fullest all the way to end. I pray for his family and specifically for his grandchildren who have lost both a mother and a grandfather in the past few years. God speed Mayor.”
Denise Salvaggio, Account Executive –
“I can remember being at sidebar restaurant downtown (one of Buddy’s) regular spots. We were sitting next to each other at the bar. He was at the corner as usual with his iPad and newspaper. He spotted a father and his young son walking in for dinner. He looked at me and said “Denise, that’s what this city needs more of…parents like that to come to the city for dinner instead of fast food and electronics”. Buddy got up from the bar, went over and shook the dads hand and thanked him for bringing his son to the city, and this was way before he was running for re-election. He sat with them for about 8 minutes talking and laughing. He got up, came back to the bar and said “that’s a good dad”. That was the Buddy I knew. Loved the city, loved life and never at a loss for words. You will be missed Mayor. May you rest in peace!”
