Philip Saccoccia was in his 80th year when he died on May 8, 2025, in his home in the Springhill Community. Born in Cranston, Rhode Island to first generation Italians, Papa had a warm smile, outgoing personality and a passion for life that honored his roots.

He graduated near the top of his high school class, double majored in English and Chemistry at Providence College, then aced his way through Albany Medical School where he first met his future wife, Marlene, before being drafted into the Army during the Vietnam War. He served his country in a medical laboratory in San Antonio where he developed lab assays and processes that saved the US government a lot of money, which suited his talent but not his ambition. So, he reasoned that his military obligation should be cut short, and he wrote a three-star general in Washington to ask just that.

He often talked his way into and out of deals. He famously got such an incredible deal on a bamboo fly rod that his brother-in-law begged the salesman for a deal half as good. He was ruthless in his returns of Costco purchases, reveled in the fine print of insurance claims; and routed, re-routed and re-re-routed airplane tickets, never paying a change fee. Negotiations with the US Army were not as smooth.

The general disagreed with his assessment and mercifully sent him to finish his service in a primary care clinic in Monterey, CA, where he sailed in the Pacific and traded sports cars with the young GIs going off to war.

Upon his discharge, he moved to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where he worked with the ski patrol, published a book of poetry and reconnected with his future wife, Marlene.

They moved to Seattle where he learned his trade as a surgical pathologist. He and Marlene took the ferry into Seattle to work and met at Pike Place Market in the evenings on their way home. The dreary weather was too much for him, so they moved to Bozeman, Montana in 1977 where they thought they had found their forever home.

Circumstances changed and in 1979 they moved to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. That is where they raised two bright, loving and hardheaded children, Mara and Beau. Papa used to wake up early to cast his net for mullet in the Mississippi Sound before spending his workdays peering through microscopes and diagnosing diseases as a surgical pathologist at Memorial Hospital in Gulfport, MS. He was meticulous, whip-smart, gregarious and ambitious.

He served as head of his practice, chief-of-staff for Memorial Hospital, and chaired Gene Taylor’s successful election to the US Congress in 1989. About Philip, Gene once said, “he has the sharpest political acumen of anyone I know”. Phil maintained his Montana connections and invested in farmland in Bozeman which was developed into North 19th St. Phil and Marlene bought a home in the Springhill Community, anticipating their retirement.

Hurricane Katrina ushered those plans along and they moved back to Montana full time in 2006. Since returning, he has spent time playing golf poorly, fishing often, “taking his gun for a walk” looking for pheasants and quail, skiing, traveling, collecting ceramics and rocks, serving on the boards of the Museum of the Rockies and Eagle Mount, developing commercial real estate, and eating pastries. You’ll find a rock with his engraving stating something to that effect somewhere along Sacco Lane.

In his last months, as he was succumbing to pancreatic cancer, he rarely spoke of his diagnosis. He found it more interesting to hear the stories of neighbors and friends, to talk about the world. On his nightstand are books about naval navigation, Greek mythology, and poetry. He was a man of many interests and pleasures, and his curiosity was unbridled regardless of the topic. Phil also relished his role as “Papi” to his five grandkids, always present at their events, and spoiling them with his love and thoughtful support.

Philip was survived by his wife of 50 years, Marlene; daughter, Mara (Ed) Zello; son, Beau (Claire Bangser); grandchildren, Lily, Luca, Lana, Mae, and Della; sisters, Susan Saccoccia, and Raffaela Kane (Jim and son Adam); brothers-in-law, Mark Lesniowski, and Brian (Andrea) Lesniowski; sister-in-law, Sheila and her sons, James and Jeremy.

A Funeral Service will be held at Hope Lutheran Church on Friday, May 23 at 10:00 AM with a reception to follow at the AC Hotel Benchmark. Memorial contributions can be made in his name to Eagle Mount, the Montana Chamber Music Society, or a Charity of your choice.

The night he died he looked Beau in the eye and told him not to cry. While we are all reeling from this momentous loss, we are trying to heed his advice: Live large with joy and wonder.

The smoking ban would go into effect Jan. 1, 2027, later than anti-smoking advocates had hoped.

A federal program passed by Congress in 1992 that provides safety net hospitals and health centers discounts on outpatient prescription drugs has become essential to keep them afloat financially.

Amgen has said it may not expand in West Greenwich because of the 340B program.

Rhode Island lawmakers voted to clear the smoke from Bally’s casinos, raise the minimum wage and preserve health center revenue from a controversial federal drug discount program in what was slated to be the penultimate day of legislating this year.

Most of those bills, and dozens of other pieces of legislation that advanced Wednesday, June 18, will need final votes on the final day of the annual legislative session, which is expected to be a marathon of voting on Friday, June 20.

The $1-an-hour increase in the minimum wage passed the General Assembly and will now go to Gov. Dan McKee’s desk.

Casinos

Casino workers, labor leaders and public health advocates have been pushing to ban smoking in casinos for years, but Bally’s until now has successfully argued that smoking is one of its competitive advantages in an increasingly saturated New England gambling market.

And since gambling is the third-largest source of state revenue, as the casino business goes, so goes state government.

But this year, with organized labor among those pushing to end the smoking exemption and the death of longtime Bally’s ally Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, the pressure for smoke-free gambling in Rhode Island broke through.

The Senate passed a version of the casino smoking ban on June 18 that seeks to lessen the impact of going smoke-free on Bally’s by allowing it one casino-based “smoking bar,” which is defined as an establishment that makes at least half its revenue from tobacco sales.

Originally, the bill named the Plume & Proof Cigar Bar at Bally’s Twin River as exempt from the smoking ban, but amended it on the floor to allow smoking in any single smoking bar within a casino.

The smoking ban would go into effect Jan. 1, 2027, later than anti-smoking advocates had hoped.

The House version was approved by the House Finance Committee, setting it up for a final vote June 20.

While Bally’s could possibly lose some business without smoking, the House passed a bill that would allow the company to live stream its casino games to places outside Rhode Island.

The Rhode Island Lottery does not expect this simulcasting will generate any new revenue for the state, but it could in the future lead to more business and employment at Bally’s, spokesman Paul Grimaldi said.

Rep. Scott Slater, D-Providence, said the live streaming would primarily be beamed to the United Kingdom.

The Senate has already passed its version of the bill.

Pharmaceuticals

A federal program passed by Congress in 1992 that provides safety-net hospitals and health centers discounts on outpatient prescription drugs has become essential to keep them afloat financially.

But as the program, known as 340B, has grown, drug makers have pushed back at what they see as exploitation of the system, particularly by pharmacies and pharmacy benefit managers, and have begun restricting access to the discounts or charging fees.

That’s put pressure on community health centers such as Thundermist Health Center and Providence Community Health Centers, which reported losing $5 million and $9 million, respectively, from the restrictions. Hospitals and health centers that acquire the drugs at a discounted rate can keep the difference between that price and what insurance reimburses for the prescription.

Legislation passed first by the Senate and on June 18 by the House would make it illegal for the pharmaceutical industry to lower reimbursement rates, limit access or charge fees to organizations participating in the 340B program.

Drug makers, including Amgen, which employs 900 in its West Greenwich factory, lobbied against the bill, saying it would allow even more pharmacies to take advantage of a program originally meant to benefit hospitals in low-income areas.

A nonprofit called Community Action for Responsible Hospitals has been advertising across the state against the bill, asking Rhode Islanders to “reject private equity hospitals.”

Rep. Ray Hull, D-Providence, said hospitals are “gaming the system” and not putting the revenue generated back into the community.

Rep. Patricia Serpa, D-West Warwick, said she supported the bill but “frankly, I distrust pharmacy benefit managers.”

“I don’t care which drugstore, whether it’s Walgreens, CVS – distrust all of them,” Serpa said. “And I remember that a director of Amgen was here a couple of weeks ago and he spoke pretty seriously about how this bill would affect future expansion of Amgen out in West Greenwich.”

But a bipartisan group of lawmakers said in a battle between community health care providers and “big pharma,” they would side with the providers. They said organizations including Wood River Health, Landmark Medical Center, Thundermist and Well One Medical could be in trouble without the bill.

Rep. David Place, R-Burrillville, blasted the pharmaceutical industry for acting as “judge, jury and executioner” in unilaterally managing a federal program.

“This is a choice between big pharma and community health centers, that’s what the choice is,” Place said. “I don’t care about Amgen. If I’ve got a choice between keeping Well One open and Amgen closing? Bye. Go to South Carolina. Please do. Do not come in here and try to blackmail us.”

Pensions

In what has become a tradition, there are disability pension bills for police and firefighters moving through the House and Senate in the final days of this year’s session.

One would extend to police the same opportunity lawmakers previously gave firefighters to retire early with disability pensions, paying them two-thirds pay, tax free for life, if they develop a heart condition or hypertension.

The other seeks to remove a legal obstacle to firefighters outside the state retirement system getting disability pensions if they develop any form of cancer.

A previously passed state law created a presumption that any cancer in a firefighter is job-related.

The legislation moving through the Assembly now says this is true “notwithstanding” any other law, rule or ordinance.

Asked what might have prompted this move, Rob Craven, the legislative director in the state treasurer’s office, cited a recent Rhode Island Supreme Court ruling concerning a city ordinance in Providence and the Providence Pension System.

The Supreme Court, in February, ruled that the state law providing benefits for firefighters, within the state-run pension system, who develop “occupational cancer did not supersede … [the] established pension system for city firefighters and had different requirements for qualifying for cancer benefits.”

Minimum wage

An increase in the $15-an-hour state minimum wage to $16 an hour next year and $17 an hour in 2027 passed the General Assembly.

Other bills that advanced Wednesday, June 18, include:

Anti-bid rigging. Legislation backed by Attorney General Peter Neronha, inspired by the “ILO Group case” and opposed by the McKee administration, would prohibit “intentional interference” by public officials in a procurement.

The McKee administration has called it vague and duplicative of existing statutes.

School bus cameras. Would require all school buses to have automated video systems for catching motorists who pass school buses when their stop lights are flashing.

The ACLU opposes the legislation, saying it will pump money to vendors and increase the reach of the surveillance state.

Freedom to Read. Protects librarians from lawsuits and creates a model policy for library curation and challenges.

Workplace free speech. Prevents employers from disciplining workers for refusing to attend a meeting whose primary purpose is “to communicate the employer’s opinion concerning religious or political matters,” including on union issues.

Matunuck Oyster Bar. Legislation that would allow a restaurant such as the fire-damaged Matunuck Oyster Bar in South Kingstown to open temporarily in the parking lot with local approval passed the full General Assembly.

The company’s United States lottery business will be run from Providence

The 20-year lottery contract IGT signed with RI that mandates 1,100 workers here was factor in maintaining offices here

Company considered bringing back GTECH name but decided against a moniker with sentimental value

PROVIDENCE − The company born in Rhode Island as GTECH that has effectively run the state lottery under the name International Game Technology (IGT) for the last decade will now be known as “Brightstar.”

The rebranding announced Tuesday, June 17 stems from the pending break-up of IGT’s lottery business from its casino gaming business.

In a deal struck last year that is expected to close in July, private equity firm Apollo Global Management agreed to buy IGT’s name, slot machine, digital gaming and sports betting operations while taking them private.

The publicly-traded lottery company that remains, and whose United State operations are based on Memorial Boulevard in Providence, will continue to fulfill its obligations to Rhode Island under the 20-year lottery deal it entered into with the state in 2021, including providing slot machines to the state’s two casinos under a joint venture with Bally’s.

The deal also requires the company to employ 1,100 workers in the Ocean State.

“For us it’s a bit of a back-to-the-future moment and we’re more aligned with the company that GTECH was before it was acquired by Lottomatica,” Robert Vincent, chairperson of Brightstar, said about the spinoff deal and newly branded lottery business.

As for why the name “Brightstar,” Senior Vice President of Marketing Wendy Montgomery said it was to convey optimism about the future of lotteries.

“The bright star to us really captures the essence of optimism that we feel about the industry, our leadership position, and really to being a guiding light to our customers,” Montgomery said.

What does the IGT rebrand mean for Rhode Island?

As for what the sale and rebrand means for Rhode Island, Vincent said there won’t be dramatic changes in the short term beyond a new sign going up on the downtown Providence office building.

However, in the reorganization of the company post-sale, Brightstar plans to focus operations in Rhode Island, including a West Greenwich office as well as Providence, rather than some of the other places it has facilities.

“This is good news for Rhode Island, because we will be concentrating our efforts here in state,” Vincent said. “Whereas before we had a large presence in Nevada, California, Canada, and Rome, which will remain obviously, but this will become our principal headquarters. And as such, we will be looking to relocate services and personnel or positions that were in other areas.”

That doesn’t necessarily mean an increase in net Rhode Island employee count. On several occasions over the last few years, IGT has missed its contractual headcount target.

Keeping IGT’s offices in Rhode Island drove state leaders’ enthusiasm for signing the company to an exclusive 20-year lottery contract without a bidding process, and Vincent suggested that contract may be what has kept the company here.

“I think it is something the state can look on as a good development and probably a direct outcome of the 20-year management agreement they entered into,” Vincent said. “A company like ours can operate from anywhere. And with all the obligations and commitments we’ve made to Rhode Island and they’ve made to us, this is where we’re consolidating our efforts.”

The company also manages the state’s sports betting operations under a separate, and much shorter, exclusive contract that expires in 2026.

That will continue until the contract expires, but the company’s focus on traditional lottery management make it even more likely Rhode Island will seek proposals for new and multiple sports betting vendors for its next contract.

When searching for a new name, did the company consider going back to GTECH

“There was a lot of discussion and a lot of employees for GTECH, but even though we did consider that we decided we wanted to be thinking about the future,” Montgomery said.

Vincent: “It didn’t make sense to go back to the old name just for the sake of going back to it because there was sentimental value.”

Providence Journal

AI-assisted summary The Boston Red Sox traded Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants.

The Red Sox receive pitchers Jordan Hicks and Kyle Harrison, plus prospects, in return.

Devers’ refusal to switch positions after the Red Sox acquired Alex Bregman reportedly caused friction with the team.

The Boston Red Sox have traded slugger Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants, according to several reports.

The Red Sox will receive pitchers Jordan Hicks and Kyle Harrison as well as prospects James Tibbs III (outfielder) and Jose Bello (pitcher). The trade was first reported by Fansided.

According to USA TODAY Sports’ Bob Nightengale, Devers was informed of the trade and pulled off the team plane as the Red Sox were about to depart for Seattle. Boston (37-36, fourth place in the American League East) had just completed a three-game sweep of the Yankees with a 2-0 win on Sunday, June 15.

The Giants will pay the entirety of Devers’ remaining 10-year, $315 million contract, reported Nightengale. Hicks had signed a four-year $44 million deal with the Giants in January 2024, while Harrison is playing on a one-year deal worth $760,000.

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

Devers, 28, was the last remnant of the 2018 Word Series champion Red Sox. He made his Major League debut in 2017 at age 20 and was in the midst of his ninth season with Boston. He has appeared in a league-leading 72 games this season, and is batting .271 with 14 home runs, 57 RBIs and an .894 OPS. He is a three-time All-Star third baseman who had become the face of the organization, but he angered Red Sox GM Craig Breslow this season by refusing to move to first base after the offseason acquisition of Alex Bregman, remaining as the team’s DH.

This is a breaking story. More information to come.

Many tenants have organized themselves into a commercial union

The new owners say they are repairing the roof and working on the electric system

Union organizers have been protesting against evictions, including a group that teaches music to women, girls and transgender people

PROVIDENCE – The Atlantic Mills complex in Olneyville, one of Providence’s few remaining low-cost havens for artists, has been sold to a limited liability company based in Pawtucket formed for the purchase.

The 350,000-square-foot sprawling building sold for $4 million after previous owner Eleanor Brynes, of Florida, backed out of a deal with the Providence Redevelopment Agency to buy the property. The entire campus is 4.75 acres and tenants range from artists to wholesalers, the Big Top Flea Market, multiple furniture retailers and light manufacturers.

The new owners are Eric Edelman, Bob Berle, Richard Granoff and Jeffrey Mendell.

In a news release, the new owners wrote that they have “enthusiasm” for the community of small businesses, artist and entrepreneurs who work in the building.

The building is now being managed by Acropolis Management, which has been butting heads with tenants who have formed a commercial tenants union.

“Planned improvements include new windows, roof repairs, parking lot resurfacing, electrical power upgrades, and enhanced landscaping,” according to the news release.

In a post on LinkedIn, Edelman wrote that the plan is to keep it as a “commercial / flex building” and they are working on upgrades.

“We have plenty of space for new tenants along with the existing mix of awesome businesses,” he wrote.

The only tenant guaranteed to stay is the Big Top Flea Market, according to the release, while space is being advertised for rent, ranging from 750 square feet to 20,000 square feet. Estimates before the sale, and new management, were that the building was 88% rented.

Tenants worry they will be pushed out of Atlantic Mills

Tenants have expressed fear about the new ownership and new management pushing out tenants and raising rents. The space had been one of the most affordable in the city and tenants previously told The Providence Journal that there are no other spaces priced the same in Providence, or even near the same price.

In March, union organizers marched to and picketed outside the real estate office of one of the buyers. They have said that the new management company had started evicting tenants. The union represents 95 businesses, artists and community organizations.

Among the groups evicted was RIOT RI. The group empowers girls and women, as well as transgender and gender-expansive people, through music instruction.

Eleanor Brynes backs out of city sale

The building had been owned by the Brynes family for 70 years prior to the sale and before that, it was the headquarters for the Atlantic Delaine factory – its namesake.

In September 2022, the Providence Redevelopment Agency voted to buy the mill building from Howard & Eleanor Brynes LLC for $3.9 million to preserve the building and keep the tenants there. Estimates at the time totaled $15 million in maintenance, upkeep, repairs and remediation.

The original timeline was for the Providence Redevelopment Agency to purchase the building in October 2023, a year after entering the agreement. In August 2023, the agency put out a request for information, looking for partners to help with redevelopment, but the deadline came and went without closing of the deal.

The city also ordered an environmental assessment, which came in June 2024. The city obtained a $2 million grant for remediation of the environmental issues, but that grant won’t be used because it was contingent on city ownership.

After that, in July 2024, two years after entering the purchase-and-sale agreement and a year after the deal was supposed to close, the owners backed out of the deal, Josh Estrella, spokesman for Mayor Brett Smiley, wrote in an email at the time.

The history of the Atlantic Mills

The Atlantic Mills is listed by the Providence Preservation Society on its most endangered properties list.

The property consists of three buildings, two attached to spires that also serve as staircases for the buildings, and a center mill building. The original mill was built in 1851, followed by the eastern side and its tower in 1863 and then the “nearly identical” western side and tower in 1882, according to the Providence Preservation Society’s Guide to Providence Architecture.

“These unique towers stand in front of one of the city’s first pier-and-spandrel-construction mills, and the relatively modest-sized windows, not fully exploiting the structural possibilities of that form, reinforce its early date,” according to the guide.

To the rear is the Woonasquatucket River.

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Reporter Nish Kohli contributed to this report. Follow Wheeler Cowperthwaite on X, @WheelerReporter, or reach him by email at wcowperthwaite@providencejournal.com.