[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 53 (Tuesday, April 23, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4001-S4002]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             ROBERT DONOVAN

 Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I wanted to take a few moments today 
to commemorate the life of Robert Donovan, President of ABB 
Incorporated, who so tragically perished with Commerce Secretary Ron 
Brown in Croatia.
  Over the past few weeks, the Nation has come together in an 
outpouring of support and remembrance for the life of Commerce 
Secretary Ron Brown.
  And deservedly so. Ron Brown was a great American who faithfully, and 
with quiet dignity, served his country and his party.
  But, we must not forget those in our own community who were taken 
away from us on that wind-swept mountain in Croatia.
  Robert Donovan, as well as all the others who were killed, deserve 
our special praise and commemoration because they died while on a 
humanitarian mission of mercy.
  Robert Donovan didn't have to travel to the Balkans. He certainly 
could have stayed in Connecticut. But, Robert Donovan believed, as did 
everyone else on that plane, that in the global economy of the 21st 
century, Americans have a need and a responsibility to reach beyond 
their borders.
  And, what's more, he believed the business community had a solemn 
obligation to do all it could to help those nations that are in the 
midst of the difficult process of rebuilding and reconciliation.
  Some may cynically suggest that Robert Donovan and the other business 
leaders who traveled to Croatia were interested only in a financial 
bottom line. But one doesn't journey to Bosnia to make money.
  Robert Donovan went to the Balkans because he believed that the 
dynamism of American business could help bring lasting peace to regions 
that for years knew only violence and hatred.
  And he believed that his efforts could make a real difference in 
healing the lingering anguish of ethnic violence.
  This spirit of altruism was evident in everything that Robert Donovan 
did.
  At a time when pundits and politicians alike have made corporate 
CEO's Public Enemy No. 1, Robert Donovan proved the stereotype wrong. 
He was a man who remained strongly committed and loyal to his workers 
and his company.
  He was as comfortable dealing with ABB employees, either in the 
workplace or running in the neighborhoods around this plant as he was 
dealing with international wheelers and dealers.
  And his generosity spread beyond the workplace. He took an active, 
personal interest in helping out at the 1995 Special Olympics World 
Games in New Haven.
  But, Robert Donovan was a man who didn't hesitate from taking on 
difficult tasks and that was never more obvious than on his last 
mission to the Balkans.
  And, while I know this is a difficult time for Robert Donovan's 
friends, family and colleagues, it is important to remember that last 
mission and all the tireless work that he did on behalf of ABB, his 
family, and his country. It's that enduring legacy that we must all 
remember in this time of tragedy.

[[Page S4002]]

  My thoughts and prayers remain with his wife Margaret, and his 
children Kevin and Kara.


                              claudio elia

  Mr. President, I also wanted to take a few moments to remember 
another Connecticut resident who tragically perished with Commerce 
Secretary Brown in Croatia--Claudio Elia, of Greenwich, CT, who was 
chairman and CEO of Air & Water Technologies Corp.
  Like Ron Brown and all the others who died in Croatia, Claudio Elia 
was on a solemn mission of mercy and he deserves particular recognition 
from this body.
  Claudio Elia came to this country from Italy and took advantage of 
the vast economic opportunities available to all Americans. He started 
his business career in 1968 at the Boston Consulting Group and from 
there he quickly worked his way up the corporate ladder.
  In fact, Elia's value at Air & Water Technologies was so significant 
that it took three top executives to replace him.
  But, as Claudio Elia reveled in the economic opportunities that he 
received in his country, he traveled to Bosnia so that others would 
realize the same opportunities.
  Claudio Elia didn't have to travel to the Balkans. There are 
excellent business opportunities elsewhere. But, Claudio Elia 
recognized that in the global economy of the 21st century, Americans 
must often look beyond its borders for new possibilities.
  One of Claudio Elia's former classmates said at his funeral that: 
``His presence on that flight was vintage Claudio. He was constantly 
pushing the envelope, looking for new opportunities and business 
relationships.''
  And those words were most true on the final mission of his life to 
the former Yugoslavia. He believed that American businessmen have an 
obligation to play a role in helping nations that are on the difficult 
journey toward peace.
  There are those who have cynically insinuated that Claudio Elia and 
the other business leaders who traveled to Croatia were interested more 
in their financial bottom line then the well-being of the Bosnian 
people. Well, as I said before, one doesn't journey to Bosnia to make 
money.
  I believe that Claudio Elia and everyone else on that flight ventured 
to the Balkans because they shared the vision of Ron Brown.
  They believed that through the machinations of the free market they 
could make a real difference in the lives of the Bosnian, Serb, and 
Croatian people. They understood that even though peace had been 
achieved, the chance for a real and lasting peace would depend on all 
peoples having the same opportunity for a brighter future.
  Claudio Elia took with him to the Balkers who unquenchable spirit of 
American optimism and idealism that has infused our Nation for 220 
years.
  That spirit was as evident when he was in the boardroom or on an 
overseas mission, as it was when he was sailing his yacht in the Long 
Island Sound or dealing with his employees in the same manner he dealt 
with everyone else.
  Claudio Elia was a man who didn't hesitate from taking on difficult 
tasks and that was never more obvious than on his last mission to the 
Balkans.
  And, while I know this is a difficult time for Claudio Elia's 
friends, family and colleagues, it is important to remember that last 
mission and all the tireless work that he did on behalf of his family, 
and his country.
  My thoughts and prayers remain with his wife Susan and his children 
Christine and Marc.

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