[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.
____________________