[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 158 (Thursday, October 12, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S15096-S15097]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO RACHEL SCHLESINGER

  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, on behalf of myself and my wife Nancy 
and my family, I would like to speak a few moments about Rachel 
Schlesinger, who died this past Tuesday. For the most part, when we 
hear the word ``Schlesinger'' around here, we think of Rachel's 
husband, Jim Schlesinger, who has held some very high Cabinet posts 
with both Democratic and Republican Presidents. But I do not want to 
speak about him today.
  I want to just take a few minutes in my way to speak about Rachel 
Schlesinger, who died this past Tuesday. There are going to be a lot of 
eulogies for Rachel because there are so many of us who were touched in 
some special way by this remarkable woman. Let me add a few personal 
thoughts and sentiments about her.
  Rachel, in my opinion, personified what one committed individual can 
do for those who are less fortunate, those who need special help, and 
those who cannot always fend for themselves. She was a gentle and 
unassuming lady. Those of us who saw her in action knew that behind her 
quiet exterior was a person of great strength and dedication to issues 
of importance to her and, in many instances, to her family.
  Years before the issue of mental illness became as well understood as 
it is today, Rachel Schlesinger was speaking out and advocating for 
more research about this disease.
  She testified in behalf of the mentally ill. She offered her support 
to those small, but valiant, organizations who worked so hard to share 
the message of this dread disease, which we now call mental illness or 
mental disease.
  My wife reminded me how amazed she was that just a few months ago, 
while suffering her own health battles, she attended a meeting of the 
National Alliance of the Mentally Ill and was as gracious and friendly 
as ever, while suffering immensely from the disease that would finally 
cause her demise.
  Rachel always believed more could and should be done to find a cure 
for mental illness, be it schizophrenia, manic depression, bipolar 
illness, or any of the dread illnesses that we choose now to call 
mental illness or mental disease.
  She was a strong influential and outspoken communicator about this 
issue. We appreciate deeply all of her help, her selfless energies in 
behalf of this cause.
  Another example of Rachel Schlesinger's great heart was her concern 
for the homeless. We remember that she handed out sandwiches from a 
food wagon. She was one who took time from her own busy schedule to 
lend a hand to those in need. Today, people say, and we learn this from 
our young generation, ``If you're going to talk the talk, you better 
walk the walk.'' Well, Rachel was one of those who really did, she 
walked the walk.
  Let me also mention one other facet of her life that so many people 
close to her admired, and that was her love of music. As a musician 
herself, Rachel 

[[Page S 15097]]
saw music as a private expression of oneself as well as something that 
should be nurtured for the community and by the community.
  Literally up until a few days before she died, she was a driving 
force in fundraising for the Arlington Symphony Orchestra. She had 
founded and for many years she had managed the highly acclaimed 
Arlington ``Pops'' concerts. She opened up her home on countless 
occasions for the orchestra's donor activities. No work or effort was 
too much to ensure that it survived.
  She believed, quite simply, that music was a love that could be 
shared with others. She could be found wherever and whenever help was 
needed, and her devotion and great spirit will be forever remembered 
and missed by all those who benefited from and shared her deep love and 
passion of this beautiful music that she became so attached to.
  Mr. President, some will comment in the days ahead about Rachel 
Schlesinger's full life, her exciting ventures in far places of the 
Earth, her wonderful family of eight children and her devoted husband 
who respected and admired her so deeply. All of these comments will be 
heartfelt and true. I would just like to close with the thoughts that 
Rachel was a very special person to those of us who were touched by 
her, by her enthusiasm and her personal commitment to so many good 
causes and important issues.
  I share my wife Nancy's simple but heartfelt summation: ``Rachel was, 
most of all, a caring person.''
  To her family and many friends, Nancy and I join you in our thoughts 
and our prayers and joy in having known a remarkable and wonderful 
lady, Rachel Schlesinger.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  Mr. COCHRAN addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Mississippi.

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