[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 142 (Saturday, October 10, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2031]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        A TRIBUTE TO MR. VINCENT BOVE OF JOHN T. MATHER HOSPITAL

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL P. FORBES

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 9, 1998

  Mr. FORBES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in the House of Representatives 
to join with the John T. Mather Hospital community as they pay special 
honor to Vincent Bove of Belle Terre, Long Island, for his 25 years of 
outstanding leadership in the Hospital's Board of Directors.
  On Friday evening, October 23, hundreds of friends, volunteers and 
staff will gather for the hospital's 33rd annual ``One Enchanted 
Evening'' fundraising gala. This year, in recognition of October as 
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the proceeds from the annual 
benefit will go to the Fortunato Breast Health Center and Breast Cancer 
Treatment. At the gala, Vinny Bove will receive the inaugural ``Mather 
Special Recognition Award'' for his tireless efforts to create the 
hospital's Ambulatory & Inpatient Surgical Pavilion.
  As the owner of Laurel Hill Nurseries, Vinny Bove brought an 
entrepreneurial spirit and energy to Mather Hospital 25 years ago when 
he joined the Board of Directors. He has focused that energy on 
expanding Mather's medical services while nurturing its financial 
health. As the Chairman of the Hospital's Board of Directors. Vinny 
Bove was instrumental in the successful campaign to raise funds for 
hospital expansions in 1973 and 1983, as well as separate efforts to 
finance a new Emergency Room and the Ambulatory & Inpatient Surgical 
Pavilion.
  His efforts to make Mather Hospital the best it can be would make its 
namesake proud. As Vincent Bove has said, if John T. Mather were to 
visit his hospital today, ``we could show how we've cared for this 
hospital, and how it's grown over the years. We've really done it 
right.''
  Vincent Bove's efforts to grow John T. Mather Hospital into one of 
Long Island's leading health care providers seem almost Herculean to 
his friends and admirers. But for him, it was truly a labor of love. 
Mather grew on me over the years, Vinny has said, ``It plays a very 
important part of my life because it's so important to the community, 
and I'm a very community-minded person.'' Vincent Bove's love and 
selfless dedication to the community is also evident in this public 
service as the Mayor of the Village of Belle Terre.
  So, Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of 
Representatives to join the entire John T. Mather Hospital community in 
honoring Vincent Bove, a very deserving recipient of the inaugural 
``Mather Special Recognition Award'' for his 25 years of service to the 
hospital.

                          ____________________