'RONNIE JAMES DIO Day' In Los Angeles; Video Of Official Announcement Available

The Los Angeles City Council officially declared May 30 "Ronnie James Dio Day." The announcement was made at Sunday's public memorial service for the legendary heavy metal singer who died of stomach cancer at the age of 67 two weeks earlier.

Eddie Trunk, host of VH1 Classic's "That Metal Show", read councilmember Paul Koretz's official declaration to those 1,200 mourners gathered inside of Forest Lawn's Hall of Liberty, as well as the hundreds more who crowded the courtyards of the Griffith Park cemetery.

Watch video footage of Trunk's announcement below (courtesy of Christy Borgman).

Koretz's declaration in full:

"I would like to adjourn in memory of Ronnie James Dio. Born Ronald James Padavona, in Portsmouth New Hampshire in 1942. He had an amazing career in music, marked by tremendous successes with heavy metal bands ELF, RAINBOW, BLACK SABBATH, and DIO. He began his career playing with rockabilly bands in the late 1950s, and gained wide exposure in 1972 while his band, ELF, as the opening act for DEEP PURPLE. In 1979, he replaced Ozzy Osbourne as the front man of BLACK SABBATH. He toured with BLACK SABBATH until 1982, by then he had formed his own group, DIO.

"Ronnie's charisma on stage was complemented by his compassion offstage. As an organizer for the non-profit organization Children of the Night, he was dedicated to the cause of assisting children who were forcefully subjected to prostitute themselves on the streets. Since 1979, this organization has provided victims of forced prostitution with intervention and counseling, as well as a roof over their heads and a place to sleep.

"He is survived by his wife, Wendy, who is chair of Children of the Night, and his son, Daniel, his father, Pat Padavona, and two grandchildren.

"For his countless fans and admirers, there will be a public memorial service this Sunday, May 30th at 2:00 PM at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills."