[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 151 (Wednesday, October 21, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S12886]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          TRIBUTE TO VINCENT D'ACUTI ``MR. SOUTH BURLINGTON''

 Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a 
dear neighbor and lifetime friend. Vincent D'Acuti passed away on 
September 23th. However, his sense of humor and his devotion to his 
community will keep him in the hearts and minds of those who knew and 
loved him.
  Often called ``Mr. South Burlington,'' Vincent served his community 
in a variety of ways. He was a selectman in South Burlington for 10 
years during the transition from town to city in the 1970's. While he 
was on the board, the population doubled and numerous improvement 
projects were undertaken. He was on the Burlington International 
Airport Commission, helped form the Burlington Boys and Girls Club, and 
was an active member of the Kiwanis club for over fifty years. He was a 
fixture at the annual pancake breakfast and charity auction run by the 
Kiwanis, served as their lieutenant governor for New England, and 
received a national Kiwanis award for 50 years of service.
  He also served his country in the army, including a stint in 
Normandy. While stationed at Fort Ethan Allen in Colchester, he met his 
future wife, Lillian Langlois of South Burlington. After he was 
discharged, he returned to the Burlington area to work and raise his 
family.
  Vincent approached his service of both country and community with a 
sense of humor which endeared himself to everyone he met. As I read the 
article in the September 34th edition of The Burlington Free Press, I 
was struck at how many people mentioned this attribute. Frank Balch, a 
former employer of Vincent said, ``He loved his life and enjoyed it to 
the hilt. He was an unforgettable person.'' He loved to tell stories 
and most of them were about his wife and two daughters. The joy which 
Vincent shared with others grew from the joy he found with his wife 
their daughters, Donna and Diane.
  My wife Liz recalled a time when she was babysitting for his 
children. There was a huge storm, and as is typical in rural Vermont, 
the power went out. Liz wasn't expecting Vince or Lillian to be home 
for hours, so when she heard someone at the back door, she grabbed a 
vacuum cleaner and positioned herself by the door, ready to defend 
herself and Vince's two daughters. However, the mysterious noise she 
heard was Vince returning home early from his work as owner of the 
local Dairy Queen. Luckily, he said hello before my wife wacked him 
over the head with the Hoover!
  Through his commitment to his community, his friends, and his family, 
he showed us how one man can truly make a difference in the lives of 
others. Through his humor and charisma he showed us all how to live 
life to its fullest. Farewell Vincent. Your friendship meant a great 
deal to me, and to so many others whose lives you touched.

                          ____________________