Honorable Robert F. Arrigan

Arrigan, Honorable Robert F., of Cliff Drive, former Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Workers' Compensation Court, passed away on December 26, 2013 at his home in Juno Beach, FL. He was the beloved husband of Joan C. (Selwyn) Arrigan for 51 years.Born in Providence, he was the son of the late Leo E. and Antoinette M. (O'Connell) Arrigan, Sr., and was the beloved father of the late Robert Paul Arrigan; loving brother of Frederick J. Arrigan and his wife Frances of Warwick and the late Leo E. Arrigan, Jr.Bob was a graduate of LaSalle Academy, Providence College; attended Annapolis (United States Naval Academy); U.S. Army Air Defense School and the U.S. Army Reserves (Captain); and received his J.D. from Georgetown University Law. He was admitted to the practice to the Rhode Island Bar in 1961. He was a Providence Municipal Court Judge from 1975-1978.Judge Arrigan was appointed Commissioner of the Workers' Compensation Commission by Governor J. Joseph Garrahy in 1978, Vice-Chairman in 1984. He spearheaded the effort to transform the Commission to a Court and was appointed its first Chief Judge by Governor Bruce Sundlun in 1991 and he served in this position until his retirement in 2002. During the course of his service as Chief, Judge Arrigan worked tirelessly to transform a dysfunctional workers compensation system into an international model of efficiency. He worked closely with now Senator Whitehouse , the General Assembly and Governor Sundlun to overhaul the entire workers' compensation system in Rhode Island to include changes in the law, court procedures and the administration of justice. He then worked tirelessly to implement these changes helping to make the system what it is today. Part of this included the creation and oversight of the Workers' Compensation AdvisoryCouncil and the Workers ' Compensation Medical Advisory Board. Chief Judge Arrigan's dedication included education and knowledge sharing both locally and nationally. He started teaching a course in workers' compensation at Roger Williams University that is a foundation for workers' compensation professionals in Rhode Island that continues to this day. He became actively involved in the International Association of Industrial Accident and Commissions serving in many leadership roles until eventually becoming its president. All of these roles included educational meetings where workers' compensation professionals from around the world shared ideas on how to better serve injured workers and protect the best interest of their employers. He was also a trustee of the International Workers Compensation College. Upon retirement, Chief Judge Arrigan served on the Board of the International Workers' Compensation Foundation and continued to advance the study of the efficient administration of workers' compensation benefits, eventually receiving its lifetime achievement award.He was a member of the Knights of Malta. He and his wife, Joan, co-chaired the Rhode Island Chapter of the Sovereign Order of the Knights and Dames of Malta. Bob was a member of the Sons of Irish Kings, Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, The University Club, Jonathan's Landing Golf Club, and was a member of the Georgetown University Alumni. He was inducted into the LaSalle Academy Hall of Fame. Judge Arrigan's funeral will be held on Saturday, January 4, 2014 at 8:00 am from the Russell J. Boyle & Son Funeral Home, 142 Centerville Road (route 117) Warwick. Concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 am in Christ The King Church, 180 Old North Road, Kingston. Burial will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Providence. Visiting hours, Friday 4-8 pm In lieu of flowers, donations to the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, 399 Fruit Hill Ave, North Providence, RI 02911 or to McAuley House 622 Elmwood Ave, Providence, RI 02907 in his memory would be appreciated.Boylendsonfuneralhome.com