[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 20, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E86]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO ANTHONY S. GOVERNALE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 19, 1999

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me today in 
paying tribute to Anthony S. Governale, one of San Mateo County's most 
dedicated public servants. Tony passed away on December 29, 1998, 
leaving behind a legacy of community service that made a significant 
difference in the lives of innumerable Bay Area residents. He will be 
sorely missed by all of us who knew him and all of us who benefited 
from his lifetime of public service.
  Many people talk about the frustration of politics and about the 
inability of a single individual to effect change through government. 
Tony Governale's life stands as a strong rebuttal to these skeptics. 
Tony did not merely talk about building a more vibrant America for his 
children and grandchildren--he volunteered his time and his 
considerable energy and his insight on behalf of political candidates 
who shared his progressive beliefs. He masterminded a number of 
important campaigns, and he served for some time as the president of 
the San Mateo County Democratic Council.
  When his reputation as a community leader provided him with the 
opportunity to assist his beloved City of San Bruno in an official 
capacity, he seized that challenge. Tony served as a member of the City 
Council for eight years, and for two years of that time he served as 
mayor. He was a key figure in guiding San Bruno through a decade of 
growth and progress. His commitment to performing his public 
responsibilities, as well as his tireless efforts to reach out and 
involve the entire community in the decisions of its government, made 
him one of San Mateo County's most beloved citizens.
  Tony's public service was by no means confined to politics and 
government. As the longtime executive director of the Daly City-Colma 
Chamber of Commerce, he used his organizational skills and persuasive 
talents to foster the development of one of California's most dynamic 
business areas. He was instrumental in the establishment of the San 
Mateo County Health Center Foundation, which raises funds to improve 
the lives of patients at the San Mateo County General Hospital. He 
served on the governing board of the Shelter Network of San Mateo 
County, on the Board of Directors of the San Mateo County Fair, and as 
an active participant in many other civic organizations throughout the 
Bay Area.
  Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me in acknowledging the 
extraordinary life and accomplishments of Tony Governale and in 
extending condolences to his wife, Helen, and his fine family. It is my 
hope that Tony's family can take comfort in the realization that his 
important contributions to our community are an outstanding and a 
fitting memorial to him for generations to come.

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