Over 42 years the Cranston Hall of Fame has inducted 200 graduates from Cranston Schools.

The criteria required to be considered are to have graduated from any Cranston public high school 10 years or more ago, achieve success in chosen profession and made contributions to community on a local, state or national level.

This year's Class left their marks in diverse arenas. Those inducted include an attorney, transportation planner, an advocate for children and animals, an orthopedic surgeon and a physical therapist. Each marked their legacies in unique ways.

"The dinner was a success and everyone appeared to have a great time. It was truly a celebration of Cranston schools, community and families. It was heartwarming to hear the introductions of three of our inductees by their daughters who are also part of the Cranston school education story," said Hall of Fame President, Cindy Soccio.

Soccio appreciated the credit the inductees returned to Cranston schools.

"Our inductees proudly credited Cranston with their successes, proclaiming, “Cranston is the center of the Universe" and "Cranston raised me, and the audience was enthralled," she said.

Inductees hand picked their personal introducers.

Giovanni Cicione had friend Robert Coupe, Esq.  Stephen Devine had his daughter Katelyn Devine Comsiky give remarks.  Dr. Vincent Pellegrini was introduced by friend Richard Burrows, Esq. Mario Santomassimo's daughter Mia introduced her father, and Tammy Eaton was honored by her daughter, Rebecca.

Inductees received citations from Mayor Hopkins and State Representative, Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung on their achievements.

Mistress of Ceremonies, and Superintendent of Cranston Schools, Jeannine Nota Masse expressed her pleasure with the evening.

"The Cranston Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is always a wonderful evening celebrating Cranston high schools’ alumni. The fondly told stories and shared experiences of being raised in Cranston, no matter the generation, underscore the sense of pride we all have in our city and our schools.

By having this event, we collectively honor our alumni and show the students who are currently our schools, how a foundation in Cranston can be the beginning of a fulfilling and rewarding life," she said.

Since 2021, the Hall of Fame has proudly awarded  graduating seniors $1,000 scholarships. They are able to provide the assistance through their program ads, raffle and ticket sales and donations. Scholarships will be presented to the winners in Spring of 2024.

Another award the Hall of Fame recently implemented is the Dr. Frank DelSanto Community Service Award. Named for Dr. Frank DelSanto, a founding member of the Hall of Fame, with an unmatched record of community service; being Chair of the Cranston YMCA Board of Management, Officer of the Board of Directors of the Cranston Veterans Scholarship, and a member of the Board of Directors Cranston Historical Society. He has received numerous educational awards during his 42 year career in the field of health and education as a teacher/professor at the local and university levels.

The award recognizes the hard work and dedication to the betterment of the overall Cranston community, without having been a graduate of a Cranston high school.

Soccio was appreciative of the backing the Hall of Fame receives.

"It is a pleasure to see former inductees who continue to support the Foundation by attending the annual dinner or making a donation. With their help the tradition of honoring Cranston graduates marches on while also providing funds for future scholarships," she said.

Inductee roundup

Giovanni D. Cicione, JD — A business attorney with over 25 years of corporate and legal management experience. Since 2019, he has served as general counsel for North American Crane and Rigging, LLC, a regional crane, rigging and heavy hauling business which he helped expand from a New England footprint to a respected east coast regional presence. He previously practiced as a corporate attorney at prominent Rhode Island law firms including Cameron & Mittleman, LLP and Adler Pollock & Sheehan PC, and in his own private practice where he specialized in government affairs, legislative review and drafting, and permitting.  Attorney Cicione also served as lead counsel at the RI Economic Development Corporation, where he focused on contract structuring and negotiation, corporate financing and commercial transactions, corporate compliance, brownfields redevelopment, business development and intergovernmental relations.   

Mario D. Santomassimo, III, DPT — A dedicated physical therapist who has tirelessly served the Rhode Island community for more than three decades. Dr. Santomassimo has spent most of his career working in Cranston and has helped thousands of patients as they deal with orthopedic and sports injuries and recuperate from knee, back, hip, foot and arm surgeries. He takes sincere interest in his patients – student athletes to senior citizens – and is committed to helping them regain and improve their physical strength and well-being. Dr. Santomassimo is a mentor to new clinicians at Pappas OPT and is the practice’s student coordinator, working as a liaison to physical therapy students as they gain practical experience in the field. He is very generous with his time and advice when working with students; through his outgoing demeanor he puts these young adults at ease as he guides them in interactions with patients and answers their questions about working in the field of physical therapy.

Stephen A. Devine — A 1981 graduate of Cranston High School East and a member of the National Honor Society and RI Honor Society, has led a highly successful career in transportation planning for more than three decades. While completing his Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Studies at the University of Rhode Island, he was an intern in the Cranston Planning Department and drafted the Land Use Report for the City’s Comprehensive Plan. This experience formed the foundation for his professional career with the RI Department of Transportation, which began in 1987 and continued until his retirement in 2022. Mr. Devine specialized in intermodal planning, which encompasses such aspects of transportation as bicycle planning, commuter rail, freight rail and ferry service. He began as an entry level planner and gained increasing levels of responsibility in various planning positions.

Tammy Marie Eaton — A devoted community advocate and leader who has consistently displayed a selfless dedication to improving the lives of her fellow Cranstonians. A 1988 graduate of Cranston High School West and a lifelong Cranston resident, Ms. Eaton has a long history of volunteerism in the community and has served in a variety of roles to help enhance the educational experience of Cranston Public Schools students. She attended the Community College of Rhode Island and holds a Certificate from the One Year Advanced Secretarial Program at Katharine Gibbs School. The mother of two daughters who attended Cranston Public Schools, Ms. Eaton served as PTO President at WR Dutemple Elementary School for seven years and as PTPV President at Park View Middle School for three years.  In addition, she was a member of the Cranston Educational Advisory Board for four years, which included a two-year term as Treasurer. During her time volunteering with Cranston Public Schools, she also held a membership role on the Wellness and Food Advisory Committees, groups tasked with improving the overall health and wellness of students.

Vincent D. Pellegrini, Jr, MD, FAOA — An exemplary orthopaedic surgeon who has served as a clinician, educator, and researcher for more than three decades. Dr. Pellegrini is a graduate of Dartmouth College and received his medical degree from Dartmouth Medical School where he was awarded the Dean’s Valedictory Medal. He completed an internship and residency in general surgery at Hartford Hospital followed by an orthopaedic residency and fellowship in surgery of the hand at the University of Rochester.

After holding faculty positions at Stanford University and the University of Rochester, Dr. Pellegrini served as Professor and Department Chair of Orthopaedics for 27 years at Penn State Hershey Medical Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, and the Medical University of South Carolina, where he also served as Associate Dean for Medical Education and Adjunct Professor of Bioengineering at Clemson University.

To learn more about the Hall of Fame or to nominate someone for induction, or the Community Service Award, go to https://cranston-hall-of-fame.business.site/