[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 142 (Tuesday, October 21, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2039]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     IN HONOR OF DOMINICK DELLA ROCCA ``THE LEGENDARY PIED PIPER''

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CHARLES E. SCHUMER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 21, 1997

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. Speaker, one of the pleasures of serving in this 
legislative body is the opportunity we occasionally get to acknowledge 
the outstanding pillars of our communities. In my neighborhood that 
pillar is Mr. Dominick Della Rocca. He represents what it is to be an 
exceptional human being, for without hesitation he has given so much of 
himself.
  Before and after his World War II service, Mr. Della Rocca 
participated in and helped to organize neighborhood baseball games. 
Over the years, and with much local support, he developed many 
community activities for the young people of the neighborhood like the 
Buck Wingo Athletic League and the Fort Greene Civic Center.
  His attention later turned toward the needs of handicapped children. 
With the generous help of a lifelong friend, he helped start Camp 
Montebello for Blind Children. What started as a modest effort 
transformed into a project of love which permitted children with visual 
impairments to participate in camp activities like so many of their 
peers.
  Over the years many in the community have come to know, love and 
admire Della Rocca's natural ability to bring people together. There 
are few out there today who can turn charity into fun and excitement, 
something you love and look forward to performing time and time again. 
It was the popularity he gained from his charitable works that earned 
him the title of Executive Chief Mayor of the Locality Mayors. It has 
been in this capacity where he has focused the attention of the 
Community Mayors (also known as Locality Mayors) onto the needs of 
handicapped children of the area.
  The Community Mayors, with the generous donations of many local 
businesses and neighbors, have been able to raise over $160 million to 
fund a number of programs for handicapped children. Events such as 
Operation Santa Claus, the Mets at Shea Stadium, Astroland at Coney 
Island and an exchange student journey from Milan, Italy to Brooklyn, 
NY are but a few of the activities which have brought much joy to the 
children with special needs in our community.
  However, one of Della Rocca's greatest and most impressive 
achievements remains receiving the highest humanitarian honor from the 
Roman Catholic Church. Della Rocca was knighted by the Pope to the 
Magistral Knight of Sovereign Military Order of Malta. We are all very 
proud of this magnificent accomplishment.
  In honor of his 50 years of service as a Community Mayor and for 
helping bring joy and hope into the lives of 3,200,000 special needs 
children, I rise today to salute this generous individual. Thank you 
Mr. Della Rocca for setting such a wonderful example for us all, I hope 
others will follow in your footsteps and spread your good works.

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