[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 144 (Thursday, October 23, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2057-E2058]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      RECOGNIZING CONTRIBUTIONS OF STELLA GABUZDA AND ROBERT ROCHE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. CURT WELDON

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 22, 1997

  Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor to 
congratulate both Stella Gabuzda and Robert Roche on their receipt of 
the Founders' Bank 1997 Quality of Life Award. These two distinguished 
honorees will receive their award on Thursday, October 23 at a special 
ceremony held on their behalf.
  The Founders' Bank Quality of Life Award recipient is chosen by a 
council of former recipients and is presented by Founders' Bank

[[Page E2058]]

to members of the southeastern Pennsylvania community who have made a 
major contribution to the quality of life of the people of their 
community. Since October of 1988 the Founders' Bank Quality of Life 
Award has been awarded to one individual each year. This year however, 
two people have been selected.
  Stella Gabuzda began her distinguished career in 1965 when she became 
a member of the Bala Cynwyd Board of Trustees and subsequently the 
Lower Merion Library Association Board. In 1976 she joined the 
township's library staff where she took charge of the fledgling film 
service at Ludington Library. She moved on to the Penn Wynne Library in 
1980 as its head librarian. For 5 years, the Penn Wynne neighborhood 
reveled in her warm, personal approach, a hallmark of Stella's style. 
In 1989 she became Ludington's head librarian and met the challenges of 
running the township's biggest library with her customary zest. 
Stella's talent to combine professionalism with personal caring led to 
remarkable growth of special endowments and gifts to the library. Known 
for her wide-ranging knowledge, enthusiasm, energy, leadership and 
vision, her 20 years at Penn Wynne and Ludington Library spanned the 
pre-computer era to today's constantly changing and challenging world 
of computerized information technology. But she never lost sight of 
what mattered most to her; giving the residents the best possible 
library service to fulfill their reading, listening, and informational 
needs.
  Robert Roche began his career of service in 1950 when he joined a 
Philadelphia fundraising consulting firm where he served such clients 
as the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Saint Christopher's 
Hospital For Children, and the Hospital of the University of 
Pennsylvania. In 1958 he became the director of capital campaigns and 
later director of development of the University of Pennsylvania. There, 
he ran a $93 million campaign and participated in the building of a 
truly professional development office. In 1968, he founded Barnes & 
Roche, Inc., a fundraising consulting firm, and since then has 
personally served some 250 clients. He is currently founding chairman 
of the firm. He has served the community in many ways. He was an active 
volunteer firefighter for 25 years and has served several terms as a 
member of the Merion Fire Company Board of Managers. He currently 
serves on the Quadrangle Board of Directors, the board of the Lower 
Merion Conservancy and the Campaign Committee of the Volunteer Medical 
Service Corps of Lower Merion and Narberth.
  Each year the recipient of the Quality of Life Award chooses a 
charity of his or her choice to receive the donations made by the 
invited guests. Stella has chosen to support the Bala Cynwyd Library, 
Ludington Library, Penn Wynne Library, and the Lower Merion Historical 
Society. Bob has selected the Merion Fire Company, the Lower Merion 
Conservancy, and the Volunteer Medical Service Corps of Lower Merion 
and Narberth.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my other distinguished colleagues to join 
me in commending Stella Gabuzda and Robert Roche on their receipt of 
the 1997 Quality of Life Award. Their numerous endeavors in the field 
of public service have left an indelible mark on the communities they 
represent. In addition, I would also like to thank Founders' Bank and 
especially president Robert F. Whalen for initiating the award and, as 
a result, bringing to the forefront the courageous actions of these and 
many other fine individuals. Thanks to Founders' Bank and Robert 
Whalen, both Stella Gabuzda's and Robert Roche's contributions to the 
community will not go unrecognized.

                          ____________________