[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 118 (Tuesday, September 3, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S9735]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO SOPHIE GERSON

  Mr. MOYNIHAN. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to Sophie 
Gerson, a remarkable New Yorker who provides a superb example of how 
one citizen can make an important difference. In particular, she has 
shown how one dedicated educator can pass on a brighter future to 
numerous young people. Through her dedication to education, as a 
parent, parent association leader, teacher, school board member and 
president, Sophie has been an important leader for better education in 
the city of New York and our Nation.
  Sophie Gerson taught physical education and health in public junior 
high schools in lower income areas of New York City for over 36 years. 
She endured budget cuts, increases in class sizes and other adverse 
conditions to make sure all of her students would enjoy a healthier and 
more successful future. She imparted health skills, athletic skills, 
and the values of team work, sportsmanship, and healthy competition. 
She took an interest in coaching students in dance and, as a result, 
students were able to rise out of poverty by pursuing dance-related 
careers. Upon Sophie Gerson's retirement from teaching, her students 
composed the following tribute to her:

     Mrs. Gerson gave new meaning to the word protect
     Because she taught us to apply it to ourselves
     We will not be a generation whose health is wrecked
     And we'll put trophies she inspired on our shelves.

  Recently, many of her former students paid the ultimate tribute that 
could be bestowed on a teacher by remembering and honoring Sophie many 
years after she had taught them at an award ceremony by the Puerto 
Rican Family Institute. She shall be missed.

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