[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 50 (Thursday, April 24, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E737]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      MICHAEL DEGRANDIS REMEMBERED

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 24, 1997

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to note the passing of Michael 
DeGrandis. Mr. DeGrandis was the dean of community politics in 
Cleveland. He possessed a keen understanding of the political process 
and enabled many Clevelanders to make a difference.
  Mike was born in Cleveland, where he grew in the Buckeye-Woodland 
neighborhood. He graduated from Cathedral Latin High School and served 
in the Army as a radio controller in Okinawa during the Vietnam war.
  Mike worked for the city of Cleveland as a housing inspector. He then 
worked as an examiner with the Ohio auditor's office. Following that, 
he became an assistant business manager for the Cleveland public 
schools. Later, he served as an assistant chief deputy for the civil 
branch of the Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Department.
  Mike's political involvement was far reaching. He attended every 
Democratic convention since 1964, and was a delegate to last summer's 
convention in Chicago. He was also co-host of a weekly radio show, 
``Democratic Point of View,'' on WERE AM/1300. Mike was so involved in 
the democratic process that he thought to make sure that the last four 
digits of his home phone number spelled. VOTE.
  Mike understood what people cared about. He understood their hopes. 
He cared that their dreams were foremost in the minds of elected 
officials.
  Mike left his wife, Irene, daughters Nicole and Michelle, and son 
Michael. We will all miss him greatly.

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