[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 143 (Monday, October 21, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S12469]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO NANCY ELKIS

 Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, a few days ago, New Jersey lost 
a very special woman and I lost a good friend when Nancy Elkis passed 
away.
  Mr. President, few people in New Jersey have touched more lives, or 
made a greater contribution to their community than Nancy Elkis. Nancy 
was a woman of amazing energy and incredible warmth. Over the years, 
she involved herself in a very broad range of civic and philanthropic 
initiatives, and held a variety of positions of responsibility in 
government and community organizations. Yet throughout her life, Nancy 
always was able to find the time to help people on an individual basis. 
And, quietly and with little fanfare, she improved the lives of 
countless numbers of others who were in need.
  Mr. President, Nancy Elkis was the first woman elected to the 
Woodbury City Council, and she served as a councilwoman for 22 years. 
Although she was a Democrat in an area of the city dominated by 
Republicans, she won the respect of her constituents and her colleagues 
because of her unselfish, caring attitude, and her dedication to her 
community and the public interest.
  On the city council, she was especially active in overseeing the 
city's water department, and she continually worked to ensure that the 
city's water quality remained high. She also was vice chair of the 
Gloucester County Housing Authority. In that capacity, she came down to 
Washington regularly to discuss our State's housing needs, and we 
talked often. In all of those visits, it was obvious that Nancy cared 
deeply about publicly assisted housing, and was motivated by a deep 
commitment to improving the lives of residents.
  Nancy also was a member of the county economic development committee, 
the human resources committee, the commission on women, and the parks 
and recreation committee. Additionally, she was a State Democratic 
committeewoman for Gloucester County and past chair of the Woodbury 
Democratic Committee.
  Mr. President, Nancy's contributions extended well beyond the realm 
of government and politics. She also played a major role in several 
charitable organizations. For more than 20 years, she was active with 
the Gloucester County unit of the American Heart Association, and she 
was chairwoman of the board of the New Jersey affiliate division of the 
American Heart Association at the time of her death. Recently, she was 
named State Volunteer of the Year.
  In addition, Nancy was on the board of the United Way of Gloucester 
County, and had served as former president of the Gloucester County 
Visiting Nurse Association. She also volunteered at Underwood-Memorial 
Hospital in Woodbury.
  Mr. President, beyond her long list of accomplishments and 
contributions, Nancy Elkis was a woman of great warmth. She really 
cared about other people, especially her own family. But her love of 
others extended to her entire community, and she continually was 
looking for ways to help others in need.

  Mr. President, I attended a memorial service for Nancy yesterday, and 
was struck by the exceedingly large number of people who attended. The 
chapel was literally overflowing. People recounted stories of how Nancy 
had helped them over the years and each one was a memorial to a service 
she performed. Nobody could come away from that service, Mr. President, 
without appreciating just how deeply Nancy was loved and respected 
throughout her community, and how many lives she touched.
  Mr. President, I have a special personal connection to Nancy Elkis 
because her daughter, Karin Elkis, is the director of my Barrington, 
NJ, office. And as I attended yesterday's memorial service, I came to 
appreciate more than ever how Karin's boundless energy and tremendous 
warmth--and her deep commitment to her family and her community--is a 
reflection of her own mother. It would be hard to find two more special 
people, Mr. President. And if there is a personal testament to the kind 
of person Nancy was, it is Karin along with her three other children.
  Mr. President, I want to express my appreciation for the contribution 
Nancy Elkis made to her community and our State and offer my deepest 
condolences to Karin, her father, Preston, her sisters, Lisa and Emily, 
her brother, Tony, Nancy's mother, Irene Zibelman, and the other 
members of Nancy's family. Although their loss is painful, I know they 
will be nourished by their wonderful memories of Nancy.
  Mr. President, Nancy Elkis was an uncommon person whose legacy will 
live on for many years. I know I speak for literally hundreds of others 
in expressing my sorrow over her passing, and my deep appreciation for 
everything she did for her community. She will be greatly 
missed.

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