[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 59 (Friday, May 13, 1994)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov] [Congressional Record: May 13, 1994] From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] JOHN McKEAN SQUARE NAMED IN HONOR OF DISTINGUISHED CIVIC LEADER ______ HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of new york in the house of representatives Thursday, May 12, 1994 Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring to the attention of my colleagues an important event which will take place in my district on Wednesday, May 25th. On that day, the City of New York will officially rename the corner of Tudor City Place and East 43rd Street as John McKean Square in honor of the civic leader and community activist who passed away last year. John Ferguson McKean was an inspiration to the many people who had the opportunity to work with him. As anyone who even briefly met him quickly found out, John certainly had a powerful impact upon many lives. At his funeral last year, a good friend described John as the ``mayor or benevolent lord of Tudor City,'' and that's why I know he would be pleased that a site so close to his heart will forever stand as testimony to his commitment to the community and our City. John's commitment to community service was remarkable. He spent a lifetime working on behalf of New York and his neighbors. His energy was infectious; once John lent his hand and heart to a cause, he would not rest until the job was done. He never entertained the thought of failure; John always had the will, and he always showed the rest of us the way. John served on so many committees and community organizations that it would be impossible to talk about each of them here. After extraordinary service in the U.S. Navy during World War II which resulted in his being awarded the Legion of Merit, John spent the rest of his adult life applying his persistence and drive for the benefit of others. John was, of course, a nationally renowned tenant leader. As co-chair of the Committee Against Rent Increase Passalongs, as a member of the East Side Rezoning Alliance, as President of the New Democratic Club, and as a committee member of the New York State Council of Environmental Advisors, Community Board 6, the 17th Precinct Community Council, and Concerned Citizens for a Fair and Effective Justice, John worked tirelessly on behalf of those less fortunate than he. And his visionary leadership of the Tudor City Association, of which he was the founder and president for 20 years, and the Tudor City Greens, of which he was Chairman for Life, will never be forgotten. In fact, as one of New York City's most important tenant advocates, his lobbying in Albany led to the passage of new legislation which protected the rights of tenants across the state. But if one was forced to choose one crowning achievement which characterized John's remarkable tenacity, intelligence, and determination, one would have to recall his leadership with regards to the quixotic, yet ultimately successful, effort to halt attempts to bulldoze two parks in Tudor City into oblivion. John simply refused to allow these beautiful oases to be replaced by some gigantic monstrosity of a 52-story building. And when the going got tough, John rallied residents with a bullhorn to form a human chain around the park, mounting a successful challenge to the destruction. Mr. Speaker, I like to think of that morning as a more civilized version of Tiananmen Square, with the difference being that the good guys won. That morning, John crystallized the very essence of community activism. I believe that today's young people can take a page from this great man's book. If you really care about your community, you must believe that you can make a difference. Ask any of the residents of Tudor City of John McKean made a difference. Today, mothers still play in the park with their children because of him; midtown has at least one green sanctuary, rather than another monolith of brick and mortar. There are so many other stories of John's civic leadership. This was a man who spent the night with his wife in sleeping bags on the slate floor of their building lobby, guarding the door during a walk-out of building employees. As Kevin McKean, his nephew, once put it, ``he was always a warrior at heart, always happiest when fighting the good fight.'' And John's support did not end with his civic contributions. Those of us who were lucky enough to call him friend, and they were so many, will always remember his support and guidance in times of need. He had a wonderful sense of humor and he could reinvigorate one's enthusiasm and commitment just by his laugh. Mr. Speaker, John McKean may have left us in a physical sense. But he will live on, through the dedication of John McKean Square, through the positive impact he has had on his community, and certainly in the hearts and minds of the many people whose lives he has touched. ____________________