Artist Leaves East Providence Historical Society With $100K Gift

EAST PROVIDENCE, RI — An East Providence artist, who died last year, left the town a $100,000 gift to help preserve the city's history.

Leonard Iannacone's posthumous contribution will pay for new signs at Hunt's Mills Heritage Park to attract visitors to the John Hunt House Museum, according to the East Providence Historical Society.

As an artist, Iannacone created drawings of many historical sites in East Providence and throughout the state, including the John Hunt House Museum and other areas of the 44-acre Hunt's Mills Heritage Park. Many of his creations are on display at the museum. Iannacone, a U.S. Army veteran and career interior designer, died in January 2020 after a long battle with an illness.

"The gift will greatly help sustain their growth (the park and museum) as a vital piece of East Providence’s history," said Dave O’Connell, the executor of the Iannacone estate who facilitated the gift.

O'Connell said his friend wished to leave a gift for the National Parks Service, and the site of the John Hunt House Museum forms the southernmost point of interest of the park and is located on the South end of the Blackstone Valley National Heritage Corridor — part of the National Parks Service. O'Connell also told the historical society the gift is unrestricted.

"The generosity exhibited by the late Len Iannacone shows how important our parks and history are to our residents," Mayor Bob DaSilva said. "The city is very thankful to the Iannacone estate and the Historical Society for keeping his memory alive."