Arthur E. Coia, 79; National Leader In
Laborer's International Union
Obituary
Friday March 5, 1993
Arthur E. Coia, 79, of 42 Standish Ave., who rose
through the ranks of the 750,000-member Laborer's International Union of North America to
become its general secretary-treasurer, died yesterday after a long illness. He was the
husband of Maria (Marciaro) Coia.
Mr. Coia retired from his post as general-secretary treasurer in
1987, but continued to serve the union as chairman of its New England Laborers' Training
Fund, the Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts State Legal Services Funds, and the
Central and Eastern Canada Region Fund.
He also served as co-chairman of the union's
Education and Training Fund, and as a trustee of the Laborers' International Union of
North America Pension Fund.
He retired from all those positions in January.
Mr. Coia joined Local 272 of the Laborer's union in 1933, at the
age of 20. Three years later he was elected to his first union office, and later was
elected to a succession of offices, including president and business manager.
In 1954 he was named to the international union's
staff, and in 1971 became vice president of the international.
He first won election as general secretary-treasurer in 1979.
Mr. Coia won recognition for his activities in community affairs.
In 1988, the Italian-American Foundation presented him with its President's Award, and
earlier the Italian-American Charitable Society presented him with its
Gold Medal Award, the Boys Clubs of America inducted him into its Hall of Fame, and the
Grand Lodge of the Rhode Island Sons of Italy gave him its Recognition Award.
But Mr. Coia also had his troubles. In 1986, the President's
Commission on Organized Crime alleged that he had direct ties to the Mafia, and also said
he had used his links to mob bosses to maintain control of the Laborer's union, including
the about 8,000 members in Rhode Island.
Further, the commission said he used union money
to defend himself and his sons from federal prosecutors. The commission report said he
helped his son, Arthur A. Coia, who was the union's business manager in Rhode Island at
the time and a lawyer, to get $40,000 from the union to pay legal fees resulting from the
federal probe. (The son had subsequently been elected general president
of the international union.)
Mr. Coia was born in Providence in 1913, and was a son of the late
Pasquale and Pasqua (Cerrone) Coia.
Besides his wife and son, survivors include two
grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday at 10 a.m. in
St. Ann Church, Hawkins Street, Providence. Burial will be in St. Francis Cemetery,
Pawtucket.
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