[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 41 (Monday, March 6, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E520-E521]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     TRIBUTE TO JOSEPH M. FERRAINA

                                 ______


                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 6, 1995
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, on Friday, March 3, 1995, Mr. Joseph M. 
Ferraina of Long Branch, NJ, was honored by the Amerigo Vespucci 
Society in a testimonial dinner at the Squire's Pub in West Long 
Branch, NJ, in honor of a great career as an educator and community 
leader.
  Mr. Speaker, it would take up an entire page of the Congressional 
Record to simply set forth, in list form, the many associations, 
memberships and achievement of Mr. Ferraina. I would like to offer just 
a brief overview of some of his public accomplishments.
  Mr. Ferraina emigrated from Argentina in 1963 and began his career in 
Long Branch as a Spanish teacher in 1973. In 1978 he was appointed 
Vice-Principal of the Long Branch Middle School, and in 1982 he was 
named principal, a position he held for a decade. Two years ago he was 
promoted to assistant superintendent of the Long Branch Public Schools, 
and last year was named superintendent.
  Joe Ferraina has many distinctions, associations, memberships, 
awards, citations and honors to his credit--testimony to the many 
friends he has made, the many lives he has touched and the real 
difference he has made.
  He was named Principal of the Year by the Monmouth County Elementary 
and Middle School Administrators Association in 1991. Since 1980, he 
has served as a Governors Teaching Scholars Mentor. In 1988 he was 
named Man of the Year by the Amerigo Vespucci Society. Other awards 
include the Certificate of Merit from the Bilingual Society of Long 
Branch, the Distinguished Service Citation from the Rotary Club of Long 
Branch, the Community Service Award from B'nai B'rith, the Certificate 
of Appreciation from Rotary International, a commendation-resolution 
from the New Jersey State Senate, a resolution of appreciation from the 
city of Long Branch, the Community Involvement Award from the Knights 
of Pythias, the Community Service Commendation from the Superior Court 
of New Jersey, the Distinguished Service Commendation from the Superior 
Court of New Jersey, the Paul Harris Award from the Rotary Club of Long 
Branch and the Humanitarian Award from the NAACP of Long Branch.
  Mr. Ferraina remains active in the Rotary Club of Long Branch, having 
served as president. He is on the Monmouth Medical Center Board of 
Trustees and the Ronald McDonald House Board of Directors. He continues 
to chair the highly successful Long Branch Columbus Day Parade 
Committee. His other community affiliations include: Figli Di Colombo 
(Sons of Columbus) Club of Long Branch, the Drug and Alcohol Abuse 
Council, the first aid squad, the Monmouth Medical Human Resources 
Committee and the Amerigo Vespucci Society of Long Branch. He is also 
on the Advisory Board of the Core State/New Jersey National Bank 
Monmouth/Ocean County, the board of directors of Greater Long Branch 
Chamber of Commerce, the Long Branch Free Public Library board of 
trustees, and the advisory board of Long Branch Tomorrow, Inc. Last 
October, he was the main speaker at the Latino American Committee of 
Monmouth County.
  Mr. Speaker, it is great honor for me to pay tribute to Joe Ferraina, 
someone who represents an excellent role model for today's youth. With 
his strong communications skills, his fluency in three languages--
English, Spanish, and Italian--his effective managerial skills, 
[[Page E521]]  his dedication to the community and, most important, his 
commitment to the students for whom he has taken on such a serious 
responsibility, Mr. Ferraina exemplifies the best qualities we 
celebrate in an educator, a community leader and a citizen.


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