[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 135 (Thursday, October 1, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1852]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                   IN REMEMBERANCE OF ROBERTA MURPHY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 1, 1998

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to inform our colleagues of the 
passing earlier this week of one of the most remarkable public servants 
of our Hudson valley region in New York.
  Roberta Murphy was one of a kind. Our local newspaper dubbed her 
``the bulldog of Orange County'' and considering her tenacity and 
dedication to the public interest that description is certainly apt. 
Roberta was a deeply caring person, and at the same time was also a 
skilled political leader who knew how to get things done and how to 
accomplish the impossible.
  Roberta Murphy was first elected to the Legislature of Orange County, 
NY, in 1977, the first woman ever elected to that body. It became 
obvious as the years went by that she was no mere follower or rubber 
stamp who went along with others. Rather, she was a trailblazer, 
willing and eager to lead. In 1993, she became the Chairman of the 
Legislature--the first woman in New York south of Albany to serve in 
that position. It was as Chairman that she became a household word 
throughout our region. Many of the vital projects important to our 
county, including the expansion of our courthouse, the resolution of 
our landfill problems, the need for a new jail, moved forward under her 
leadership after vexing others for so long.
  Roberta Murphy was a member of the Monroe-Woodbury Board of Education 
even before entering county politics, and served a total of 20 years in 
that position, and the education of our young people remained her first 
love. She often would question me and my staff regarding our 
educational policies, reminding us of her firm belief that our local 
school boards know what is best for their students, and that it is the 
role of the Federal government to assist when appropriate, but never to 
dictate.
  Governor George Pataki came to know Roberta well when he represented 
her home town in the State Assembly. When she passed on earlier this 
week at the age of 66, the Governor stated: ``Roberta was a tremendous 
personal friend and a woman of just tremendous courage.''
  Perhaps the greatest demonstration of the affection with which 
Roberta was held by all is the fact that in both 1993 and 1997, her 
constituents reelected her by the largest margin of any of the 21 
members in the Orange County Legislature.
  Roberta's husband John, with whom she had a remarkable partnership, 
predeceased her by four and a half years. She is survived by their 
sons, Robert, John, and Steve. She was also a proud grandmother.
  I invite our colleagues to join me in extending our sincerest 
condolences to Roberta's entire family, and to her countless friends 
and admirers. Hopefully, their grief will be somewhat tempered by the 
knowledge that Roberta Murphy was a truly unique individual who touched 
many lives and who dedicated her life to a better society for all of 
us.
  Roberta will be long missed by all of us.

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