[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 62 (Tuesday, May 7, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E715]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E715]]


                     IN MEMORY OF MR. JAMES DeVIVO

                                 ______


                           HON. SAM GEJDENSON

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 7, 1996

  Mr. GEJDENSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember my dear friend, 
Mr. James DeVivo, who passed away unexpectedly early this morning. Jim 
was a special person who had an unwavering commitment to his hometown 
of Willimantic, CT. Jim will be sorely missed by everyone in the 
community and many others across Connecticut.
  Jim DeVivo was born in Norwich on May 28, 1937 and lived in 
Willimantic all his life. He attended local schools, operated a 
business in town, and played an important role in every facet of the 
community. Jim expanded a small family-run waste disposal business into 
a major recycling center serving customers across my State. He provided 
invaluable employment opportunities to people in a town that has been 
struggling to overcome the demise of the textile industry which fueled 
its economy for 150 years. Jim served as a member of the Board of 
Education and maintained a strong commitment to education throughout 
his life. He also had a deep commitment to his faith. On January 7, 
1996, Jim and his wife, Mary Lou, were ordained lay ministers during a 
ceremony at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Norwich.
  Jim was an eternal optimist who believed anything was possible with 
hard work and a little luck. Over the past few months, he was consumed 
with his latest project. He had purchased an old post office in 
downtown Willimantic and was in the process of rehabilitating it. He 
planned to turn it into a museum and coffee shop. Jim had a special 
talent for accomplishing what others deemed impossible.
  I have many fond memories of Jim. Most center on our times together 
in Connecticut. He also came to visit me in Washington on several 
occasions, most recently, last summer for the dedication of the Korean 
War Memorial. On one visit, I took him and another friend--Ralph 
Fargo--to the White House. Following our tour, I got separated from Jim 
and Ralph. After searching for several minutes, I found them behind the 
mansion inspecting its trash removal system under the watchful eye of 
Secret Service cameras. Regardless of where he was, Jim was constantly 
looking for innovative ways to improve his business. If the President 
had a good recycling system, Jim wanted to know about it.
  My heart goes out to Jim's family--his wife Mary Lou, and children, 
Tom, Tim, John, Bridget, and Gina. Jim cared about his family more than 
anything else in the world. He strengthened his business and worked on 
behalf of the community to guarantee a better future for those he loved 
most. A few years ago, the third generation of the DeVivo family took 
over the family business as Jim turned over the reins to his sons.
  Mr. Speaker, Jim DeVivo was a very rare man. Countless Americans are 
good businessmen and millions more are good fathers. Jim was both. 
While many people espouse lofty principles about how we should lead our 
lives, they often fail to practice what they preach. Jim followed those 
principles each and every day. Jim was a charitable man who supported 
the largest organizations, but never forgot an individual who might 
have fallen on hard times. When someone needed a job, Jim always found 
one.
  I would like to share one more story which demonstrates just how 
extraordinary Jim was. He hired many Spanish-speaking residents to work 
in his facility. Unlike so many other employers, he genuinely cared 
about each and every employee. Jim wanted them to be able to become 
successful members of society. He recognized this goal would be aided 
if they improved their fluency in English. As a result, Jim provided 
language instruction to his employees right at his plant. He wasn't 
required to do this and it didn't make his business any more 
profitable. He did it because he knew it was the right thing to do. He 
did it because he truly believed America was the land of opportunity 
where everyone can succeed with a little help.
  In political life, we have more acquaintances than friends. I am 
proud to say Jim DeVivo has been my friend for two decades. I will miss 
Jim very much. He had the qualities which have made America great--
dedication to family, community, and faith, commitment to hard work and 
limitless optimism about the future. Jim made life better for 
generations of residents of Willimantic. He will be sorely missed by 
all of us who loved him.

                          ____________________