[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 5 (Tuesday, January 10, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S729-S730]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              JOHN BLOOMER

  Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, it is my sad duty to inform my 
colleagues that this morning the president pro tempore of the Vermont 
Senate was killed in an automobile accident. He was a good friend of 
mine and will long be remembered.
  In my home State of Vermont, a calling to join the legal profession 
has historically been taken as a calling to public service. No family 
has taken that more seriously than the Bloomers of Rutland, VT.
  Asa Bloomer, legendary trial lawyer and rhetoritician, served his 
community well in the Vermont State Senate. In his heyday, in the 
1950's and early 1960's, he was the acknowledged single source of power 
in the Vermont Senate. He rose to the rank of president pro tempore, a 
post he held at the time of his death, in 1963, suffering a heart 
attack in the legislative halls. He was a close friend of my father's, 
and brought me into close contact with the Bloomer family.
  Quite naturally, his older son Bob, a lawyer, followed his father to 
the senate where he served with distinction. Then his brother, a fellow 
lawyer and good friend, John Bloomer, ran for, and was elected to, the 
Vermont Senate; 2 years ago he was elected as was his father, as 
president pro tempore of the senate. He held that position until this 
morning, when enroute to the State House in Montipelier to preside at 
an important meeting of his judiciary committee, his life was 
tragically taken in an automobile accident. His dedication to his tasks 
in Montipelier

[[Page S730]]

was well measured by the fact that his failure to appear for the very 
start of the meeting was taken by his colleagues as a dire portent of 
bad news. John Bloomer was never late.
  A pall was immediately cast over the State House as the Vermont and 
American flags were lowered to half staff in the brilliant sunshine of 
a chill and crystal clear subzero Vermont morning. John Bloomer, 
Republican senator, was immediately remembered as John Bloomer, dear 
friend.
  Margaret Lucenti, a liberal Democrat who served well with John as 
clerk of his judiciary committee, said, ``He was just a wonderful human 
being, a friend to everyone.''
  For me, a fellow member with John of the Rutland County Bar 
Association, he was a dear and trusted friend. I knew him for as long 
as I can remember. I will never, ever forget him.
  He was a true inspiration to all of us who knew him. John Bloomer was 
a man of strong convictions that were always tempered by compassion. As 
we remember his long years of service to Vermont, we will fondly recall 
his countless deeds of kindness to fellow Vermonters.
  My sympathies go out to his wife, Judy, to his brother, and to all 
his four children and to his countless friends, of which I am proud to 
count myself one.
  He well carried on the Bloomer family tradition of service to the 
State of Vermont. Our State will miss him, as a tireless public servant 
and as a caring and concerned human being. And I will miss him as a 
true friend.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  Several Senators addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Nebraska is recognized.
  Mr. EXON. I thank the Chair.
  (The remarks of Mr. Exon pertaining to the introduction of S. 189 and 
S.J. Res. 14 are located in today's Record under ``Statements on 
Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions.'')

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