[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 130 (Saturday, August 5, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1684]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       HONORING DOLORES A. KUREK

                                 ______


                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 4, 1995
  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and memory of 
an educator, a mother, a wife, a devoted citizen, a woman ahead of her 
time, and a friend. Mrs. Dolores A. [Bodnar] Kurek. Dolores Kurek was a 
woman of great dedication in my community and throughout the Nation. On 
June 2, 1995, she passed away, much too young, at the age of 59 after a 
long courageous struggle with cancer. Her presence will be greatly 
missed by the thousands of lives she touched, and continues to touch.
  Dolores Kurek was an exemplary leader in the field of science. She 
was the recipient of numerous awards including the engineering and math 
award in 1987, the exemplary women in science award, the teacher of the 
year award in 1991, and the Sears grant for science and engineering in 
1993. However, for everyone who knew her, Dolores greatest award was 
not one she received, but one she gave. Her illustrious teaching career 
spanned over 20 years of care, commitment, and devotion to spreading 
her personal love for science. Her commitment to advancing women in the 
sciences was unmatched. She personally organized Women in the Sciences 
Career Day for thousands of young women in high school throughout our 
region.
  Even to the day of her passing, her personal quest for knowledge 
never faltered. Dolores Kurek was working on another Ph.D, this time in 
physics. She was continually learning for, and from, those around her. 
If the quote, ``Read not to contradict and confute nor believe and take 
for granted, but to weigh and consider'' ever had any one in mind, it 
might just have as well been for Dolores Kurek. She was a life-long 
learner.
  She was a devoted wife of 38 years, a loving mother of six children, 
nine grandchildren, and a career educator at the high school and 
college level. The loss of Dolores Kurek is deeply felt throughout our 
community. It has been a personal gift and honor to have learned from 
her. I and all who knew her feel great privilege to have shared in her 
life and we express our gratitude for her life of dedication, 
commitment, and love. She will be missed.


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