[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 146 (Wednesday, October 14, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2161-E2162]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    KATHLEEN LUKENS--A LIVING SAINT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 14, 1998

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, it is with deep regret that I inform our 
colleagues of the passing of Mrs. Kathleen Lukens, a resident of 
Rockland County, NY, late last night.
  Kathleen Lukens is a lady for whom the title ``living saint'' was 
exceptionally appropriate.

[[Page E2162]]

She was the personification of the giving, loving person who are so 
rare in today's world. She served as an inspiration for many and will 
not soon be forgotten.
  A recent editorial stated that: ``Kathy Lukens is the mover of every 
developmentally disabled child, so committed has she been to showing 
Rocklanders and others they need not offer `pity' but recognize that 
these people are `gifts to us'.''
  In the mid 1960's, Kathy Lukens became an activist in order to help 
her own son, David, who was developmentally impaired. Her movement grew 
by leaps and bounds, due in good part to her energy and dedication. She 
first created a day care program specifically for children with 
developmental disabilities, and then became founder and first president 
of the Exceptional Child P.T.A. She established camp venture in 1969, 
the first all day summer camp program for the disabled. Today, it is 
open to all children.
  Venture also operated 15 group homes for the challenged, affording 
them with a venue to conduct productive, normal lives. Over 1,000 
individuals are served today by the programs Kathy Lukens initiated.
  Kathy Lukens was born on Jan. 5, 1931, in Philadelphia, PA, the 
daughter of Joseph and Margaret Burge. She lived in Philadelphia before 
moving to New Jersey when she was 13 years old, attending elementary 
schools in Edgewater and Bergenfield.
  Kathy attended Columbia University's graduate program and in 1952 
graduated from Barnard College with distinction and a bachelor of arts 
degree in history.
  Kathy married Dr. John H. Lukens, a clinical psychologist, in 
Bergenfield, NJ, in Sept. 1954. They moved to Rockland County in 1958, 
settling in Tappan.
  Kathy was first employed as an elementary school teacher and as a 
newspaper reporter for the Bergen Record in New Jersey and the Rockland 
Independent and the County Citizen, both in Rockland County, prior to 
establishing camp venture in 1968.
  Kathy was the author of two books: Thursday's Child Has Far To Go 
(1969) and Song of David (1989). Her early career encompassed an 
amazing amount of volunteer work. She co-founded the Tappan Zee Nursery 
School in 1959 and served as president of the Lockhart Nursery School 
in 1964.
  In 1974, Kathy Lukens founded the Child Advisory Council of the 
Rockland County Legislature. She founded and was president of the 
Rockland County Exceptional Child Parent Teacher Association in 1958; 
was chair of the Rockland County Community Service Board from 1991 to 
1997, and was vice chair from 1982 to 1985; was chair of the district 
planning focus group of the Letchworth transition group from 1995 to 
1997; and the Board of Directors of the New York Foundling Hospital 
from 1985 to 1990.

  Kathy Lukens was very active in the anti-nuclear movement in the 
1960's, and was a participant in the famous march on Washington in 
1963, at which Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his famous ``I have a 
dream'' speech.
  Kathy was the first women elected to the U.S. Catholic Bishop's 
Advisory Council in 1973 and co founded the Rockland County Catholic 
Interracial Council in 1963.
  Kathy Lukens received honorary degrees from the College of New 
Rochelle, from Long Island University, St. Thomas Aquinas College and 
the Dominican College. She was named outstanding woman in Rockland 
County by the Association of the American Society of Women.
  In 1984, Kathy Lukens was named `woman of the year' in New York State 
by Governor Cuomo. Later that same year, the Governor bestowed upon her 
the Eleanor Roosevelt Community Service Award.
  Lukens was appointed in 1985 to the New York State Advisory Council 
on Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. Governor Pataki 
appointed her to the Provider Council of New York in 1996.
  Among the major achievements of Kathy Lukens' life was the 
establishment of camp venture. She understood that those in our society 
who could not help themselves needed our time, our efforts, our energy 
and our love.
  In summary, the life and career of Kathy Lukens is that of a truly 
unique lady who distinguished herself in more facets than most other 
people: an outstanding teacher, journalist, author, humanitarian, care 
giver and mother, Kathy Lukens was a renaissance person, who remained 
humble and unassuming regarding her own remarkable accomplishments. 
Those of us who had the honor of knowing and loving her were well aware 
that this modest lady was in fact one of the more remarkable persons we 
would ever encounter.
  It is of some small gratification that Kathy remained with us long 
enough to see the new Center for Adult Living and Day Treatment Center 
in Sparkill named in her honor. It is a fitting tribute to this lady 
who gave so much for so many others.
  We extend our deepest condolences to her widower, John, who for 44 
years was truly her partner in goodness. We also extend our sympathies 
to her son, Daniel, who has now taken over the operations of camp 
venture, her son David, who inspired her to dedicate her life to others 
her son Mark who duplicated much of her work by helping found Crystal 
Run, a similar facility in Orange County, and her son Jonathan.
  We extend our condolences to her daughter Margaret and to her nine 
grandchildren.
  We also extend condolences to the thousands of individuals and their 
families whose lives were touched and made better by this exceptional 
lady.
  Kathy Lukens, who left us too prematurely, will long be missed.

                          ____________________