[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 55 (Wednesday, May 6, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E770]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO THOMAS P. MONDANI

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SAM GEJDENSON

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 6, 1998

  Mr. GEJDENSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to note with great sorrow 
the passing of Thomas P. Mondani, a man who will long be remembered for 
his dedication and commitment to Connecticut public schools.
  For two decades Mr. Mondani served as the director of the Connecticut 
Education Association (CEA) and became a champion, and friend, for 
Connecticut public school teachers. He worked tirelessly to achieve 
improvements in both the professional rights and benefits of educators.
  In 1979, he fought for the passage of a binding arbitration law for 
teachers, which ended the threat of teacher strikes in Connecticut. In 
1986, Mr. Mondani helped pass the Education Enhancement Act, which 
lifted teachers' salaries to a level comparable to those in other 
professions. With the enactment of these two important pieces of 
legislation and various other contributions, the CEA Board of Directors 
voted unanimously in 1994 to grant Mr. Mondani the CEA Friend of 
Education Award. As a lasting tribute, the CEA even renamed the award 
in his honor.
  Mr. Mondani began his career in public education as a teacher in 
Moodus in 1959. He joined the CEA staff in 1963 as a research 
consultant and later was promoted to director of research. From 1965 to 
1971, he served in the state legislature as a Representative and a 
Senator. On July 1, 1971, he became the CEA's fifth full-time executive 
director since its 1848 founding. He continued as director until March 
1, 1994 holding the position longer than any previous director. In 
1991, he was appointed Vice Chairman of the State Board of Governors 
for Higher Education by Governor Lowell P. Weicker Jr. He was 
reappointed in 1997 to a third term by Governor John Rowland. Since 
October 1997 he had been serving a six month appointment as the interim 
executive director of the Georgia Association of Educators.
  Mr. Mondani was a remarkable man. Connecticut is most certainly a 
better place as a result of his work for children, teachers, schools 
and higher education. He knew how to deal with tough questions 
concerning education and did so with a sense humor and goodwill.
  Mr. Speaker, Thomas P. Mondani was a rare kind of man, a man who 
devoted his whole life to a cause that has changed so many lives for 
the better. I have lost a good friend, and the State of Connecticut, 
its teachers, students and families, have lost one too. He will surely 
be missed by all of us who had the pleasure to know him. I am sure the 
House will join me in expressing our most sincere sympathy to Mr. 
Mondani's family.

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