[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 72 (Tuesday, May 21, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S5456]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          SHERIFF HENRY HEALEY

 Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I wanted to take a few moments today 
to speak about the passing of a distinguished citizen of Connecticut 
and a great American--Henry Healey, Jr.
  At the time of his death, Henry Healey was the high sheriff of New 
Haven County. But his legacy was far greater. He was a WWII veteran, a 
successful businessman, a dedicated member of the Democratic Party, and 
a close and dear friend.
  I first got to know Henry Healey because of his relationship with my 
father, Senator Thomas Dodd. And later, when I decided to leave the 
House of Representatives and make my own run for the U.S. Senate it was 
from Henry Healey that I sought counsel.
  His advice then, as it was every time I spoke to him, helped to guide 
me in my decision-making process. Because, Henry was a man of great 
wisdom and shrewd understanding of political history.
  Like few men I've known, Henry was endowed with a vision that allowed 
him to presciently see beyond the political machinations of the day to 
the long-term political currents of the future.
  It's one of the main reasons why Henry was probably one of the three 
or four most influential people in the past 30 years of Connecticut 
political history.
  But of course there was more to Henry then just his political acumen. 
He was a man of great loyalty and understanding, who knew how to 
accomplish things without being flamboyant or self-serving.
  He wasn't a great ideologue or a firebrand. He was more interested in 
people's human skills and their ability to work with others.
  I think his chief deputy sheriff, Frank Kinney, Jr., said it best: 
``People with problems in their lives could always open up to him and 
he never failed to respond, to do what he could for them. That's what I 
learned from him, and that's what I admired most about him.''
  And in his official role as New Haven County sheriff, Henry Healey 
turned what had been a largely administrative position into a bully 
pulpit for drug education, crime prevention, and charity.
  And he was recognized across the country for his innovations in law 
enforcement. He was one of the first officials in America to advocate 
neighborhood block watch programs. He was a strong voice in the fight 
against substance abuse in New Haven County schools. And he was 
recognized by his peers, when he was appointed president of the 
National Sheriffs Association, in the late 1980s.
  But, Henry Healey was also a man of great personal charity. His New 
Haven scholarship fund helped give hundreds of Connecticut children the 
opportunity to seek higher education. And, he made it a regular 
practice of hiring ex-convicts for his car dealerships. In addition, he 
ended the practice of serving eviction notices at Christmas.
  This charity was certainly smart politics for an elected official. It 
was no accident that if you had hopes of a career in politics in 
Connecticut, it was a good idea to stay on the right side of Henry.
  But, it also reflected Henry's integrity as a public servant and as a 
man. He was a throwback to an earlier, simpler age in American politics 
and he will be dearly missed by the residents of New Haven County and 
the State of Connecticut.
  My thoughts and prayers are with his wife Jean and his children 
Patrick, Henry Bryan, Michael, Constance, Christina, and Irene.

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