[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 137 (Wednesday, September 6, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S12748]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                      CENTENARIAN THOMAS STAVALONE

 Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, I rise today in honor of a great 
American, Thomas Stavalone. On September 14 of this year, Thomas 
Stavalone of Saratoga Ave., Rochester, NY, will be celebrating an event 
few others have been privileged to achieve; he will be 100 years old.
  Born in a suburb of Naples, Italy, in the village of Peturo in 1895, 
Tom emigrated to America in 1904 at the tender age of 9. Together with 
his family, he originally settled in the Scio Street area, later 
relocating to the old 9th Ward section of Rochester, which he still 
calls home. He attended No. 5 School, where he met the girl he would 
eventually marry.
  On June 30, 1917, Tom married his sweetheart, Immaculate LaMarca. She 
lived to the age of 90, passing away in 1987, after they had celebrated 
their 70th wedding anniversary. They had four children, Lawrence, 
Amelia, Margie and Thomas, Jr., who died in infancy.
  As a sports enthusiast during his youth, he preferred to be an active 
participant rather than an observer. Tom is also an avid outdoorsman, 
enjoying both hunting and fishing. He would always share his bountiful 
catch with neighbors and friends.
  Tom worked in several Rochester shoe factories over the years, but 
when he retired in 1962 it was from a position with the Rochester 
Transit Authority.
  Tom's chief activity today is gardening, but he also enjoys playing 
bocce and watching Yankee games. No matter what the weather, he walks 
daily to the Stardust Room at Edgerton Park to share in their senior 
citizen lunches. There he also enjoys the camaraderie of both neighbors 
and friends.
  Tom has witnessed 17 men rise to become the President of our country 
extending from Teddy Roosevelt to Bill Clinton. During his 100 years, 
Tom has seen the progress in transportation go from the horse and buggy 
age to man landing on the Moon; mass communication has evolved from 
just the printed word to radio, and even computers; entertainment has 
extended from vaudeville to video. Times have certainly changed and Tom 
Stavalone has been there to witness these many changes.
  His family and friends will honor him with a gala celebration on 
September 17, 1995, at the Mapledale Party House in Rochester, NY. I 
want to thank Tom for his many contributions to the betterment of our 
world and with him a very happy 100th birthday.


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