Lila M. Sapinsley papers (Ms. 2008.021)

Biographical note

Lila Manfield Sapinsley was born in Chicago, Illinois on September 9, 1922. She married John M. Sapinsley on December 23, 1942, while John was serving in the United States Navy during World War II. When John was sent overseas Lila resumed her education at Wellesley College and graduated in 1944. After John was discharged from the Navy in October of 1945 they moved to Providence, Rhode Island, where they still reside. Mr. and Mrs. Sapinsley have four daughters, Jill Mooney, Carol Rubenstein, Joan Lewis and Patricia Levey.

Mrs. Sapinsley's political career in Rhode Island began with her work for "Democrats for Chafee", an organization that supported Governor John Chafee's reelection campaign in 1964. Governor Chafee appointed her to the Board of Trustees of State Colleges that year, and in 1967 she became the first woman to be elected its chairman.

There were no women serving in the Rhode Island Senate in 1972 when Mrs. Sapinsley was elected to represent the 2nd District on the east side of Providence. She ran as both a Republican and as an Independent. In 1974 she was elected Minority Leader, the first woman to hold that position in either branch of the Rhode Island Legislature. She remained Minority Leader until she left the Senate in 1984 to campaign unsuccessfully for Lieutenant Governor.

Mrs. Sapinsley was appointed to be the Director of the Department of Community Affairs by Governor Edward DiPrete in 1986. The director of that department was also the head of the Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation (RIHMFC). At the time of her appointment the agency was being investigated by the Rhode Island Attorney General's Office for, among other things, illegally granting low-interest mortgages to favored customers and political insiders. During her year as Chairwoman Mrs. Sapinsley restored public confidence and proper management to the agency. She then moved on to a six-year term on the Public Utilities Commission. While she was working there Mrs. Sapinsley also became one of four regular panelists on the Rhode Island PBS program "A Lively Experiment". She retired from the program in 2004 after sixteen years.

During her political career and after, Mrs. Sapinsley served on many private sector boards, including the American Civil Liberties Union, John Hope Settlement House, Planned Parenthood of Rhode Island, Temple Beth El and the Visiting Nurses Association. She has been recognized by many organizations as "Woman of the Year". She was awarded honorary degrees by the University of Rhode Island in 1971, Rhode Island College in 1973, and Brown University in 1993. In 2007 she published Caring, Courage and Conviction: The Memoirs of Lila M. Sapinsley

1922 Sep 9

Lila Manfield Sapinsley was born in Chicago, Illinois

1942 Dec 23

Married John Sapinsley

1944

Graduated from Wellesley College

1945 Oct

Moved to Providence, Rhode Island

1964

Served as the chairman of "Democrats for Chafee"

1964

Appointed by Governor John Chafee to the Board of Trustees of State Colleges

1967

First women to be elected chairman of the Board of Trustees of State Colleges

1971

Awarded an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree by the University of Rhode Island

1972

Elected to the Rhode Island Senate, serving until 1984

1973

Awarded an honorary Doctor of Pedagogy degree by Rhode Island College

1974

Selected as a Wellesley College Distinguished Alumna

1974

Selected "Woman of the Year" by the Governor's Advisory Commission on Women

1974

First woman to be elected Minority Leader of the Rhode Island Senate

1975

Selected "Woman of the Year" by the Providence Business and Professional Women's Club

1976

Selected "Woman of the Year" by the Rhode Island Women's Political Caucus

1978

Received the City of Peace Award from the State of Israel Bond Committee

1978-1984

Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Butler Hospital, the first woman to serve in that position

1983

One of ten legislators nationwide to be recognized for outstanding performance by the National Conference of Republican Legislators

1984

Campaigned unsuccessfully for Lieutanant Governor of Rhode Island

1986

Appointed Director of the Department of Community Affairs by Governor Edward DiPrete

1986 Jan-Dec

Served as Chairwoman of the Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation

1987

Appointed to a six year term on the Public Utilities Commission by Governor DiPrete

1992

Selected "Woman of the Year" by the Rhode Island Commission on Women

1993

Awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree by Brown University

2000 Sep 15

Rhode Island College dedicated the Lila and John Sapinsley Hall at the Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts

2004

Elected to the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame

2006

John and Lila Sapinsley were appointed John Gardner Fellows of Common Cause Rhode Island