[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 59 (Thursday, March 30, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E740]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                         TRIBUTE TO SKIP CIOFFI

                                 ______


                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 30, 1995
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, April 1, 1995, Mr. Henry R. 
``Skip'' Cioffi will be honored by the Figli Colombo, Sons of Columbus, 
in a testimonial dinner at Mike Doolan's Restaurant in Spring Lake 
Heights, NJ. It is a great honor and privilege to pay tribute to this 
special man and good friend who played an important role in helping me 
get my start in politics.
  Mr. Cioffi is probably best known as the mayor of Long Branch, NJ, my 
hometown. He was first elected mayor in 1970, after having served as a 
city councilman since 1962. He was subsequently reelected to 4-year 
terms in 1974 and 1978. His 12 years as mayor stand as the longest 
tenure of any directly elected mayor in the history of Long Branch. 
Mayor Cioffi's record is an impressive and distinguished one. During 
his tenure, Ocean Boulevard was initiated, the police department was 
reorganized, and taxes were stabilized. His vision led to creation of 
the Monmouth County Park System's Seven Presidents Park, the 
preservation of valuable ocean-front acreage, restoration of the 
boardwalk, and the construction of a satellite facility for Brookdale 
Community College in downtown Long Branch.
  Mr. Speaker, Skip Cioffi's life story reads like a great American 
success story. Mr. Cioffi grew up in Monmouth County, attended the 
Lyceum in Long Branch and Red Bank Catholic High School. He enlisted in 
the U.S. Marine Corps after high school, and served for 39 months 
before being honorably discharged in December 1952. He has received 
degrees from Monmouth College and the University of Pennsylvania's 
Wharton School of Finance. He has spent his entire career in public 
service. In addition to his elected offices in Long Branch, he served 
as business administrator of the public schools systems in Eatontown, 
NJ, and Elizabeth, NJ. In 1961 he married Jean A. DeStafano, and they 
have four children, Michael, Gina, Danielle, and Skip, Jr. His daughter 
Gina did a great job during the 6 years she served as executive 
assistant in my Capitol Hill office.
  Mr. Speaker, it is an honor for me to pay tribute to my friend Skip 
Cioffi. I join with the members of Figli Colombo in congratulating him 
on his wonderful and exemplary career in public service.


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