[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 38 (Wednesday, March 10, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S2530]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO BOB MORROW

 Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I would like to pause for a few 
moments to acknowledge that those of us in Massachusetts are mourning 
the loss of one of our state's finest citizens, a graduate and loyal 
alumnus of Assumption College, a friend of the Massachusetts 
congressional delegation, and someone I had the privilege over the 
years to know as a good friend.
  Mr. President, Bob Morrow's death was a shock to those of us who knew 
him--this wonderful man taken from his family and friends at the age of 
forty-five--and to those of us who looked forward to the contributions 
he would make in the years still ahead of us.
  Although it seems a gesture wholly insufficient to honor the life of 
a friend lost too soon--to come to terms with the fact that a friend 
who was never comfortable behind a desk, who could never sit still, has 
come to a final rest--we can at least take the time today to remember 
the kind of person--and the type of friend--Bob Morrow was to those 
whose lives he touched.
  We can certainly remember Bob's extraordinary capacity as an advocate 
for two of Massachusetts' pioneering high technology firms, The Riley 
Corporation in Worcester and Stone and Webster in Boston. Bob Morrow 
was a man who lived his life in a way that proved not only that you can 
be involved in government and brush against the legislative process 
without losing your soul, but that politics can be a way for the needs 
of our citizens to be communicated to those who represent them in 
Washington, D.C. In this age of seemingly endless cynicism, Bob Morrow 
truly enjoyed the work of advocating on behalf of the companies he 
represented--and they were well served by both the depth of his 
knowledge and the levels of his idealism.
  Many of us forget that although Bob was a terrific representative of 
these companies in Washington--expertly guiding their federal 
relations--this was just one component of a job that he truly loved. 
Bob was also responsible for human resources management, training, 
public relations, and range of other services for an eight thousand 
employee firm. Although it is incredible to believe that a single 
person managed not just to juggle, but to excel, in all these 
enterprises, we all knew that Bob was one of those rare people capable 
of packing his days with wall to wall activity, because no task proved 
too difficult for a man who genuinely loved working with people.
  Bob drew on these enormous personal talents again and again--in his 
work in Worcester and Boston, but also in his willingness to bring 
together citizens from across Massachusetts to share in a political 
cause or to help one of his friends. I will always be grateful for 
Bob's efforts to help me in 1996 in my tough battle for the Senate 
against Bill Weld. Whether the task was large or small, organizing an 
event for a handful of supporters, or pulling together a dinner with 
the President of the United States at my home in Boston, Bob was always 
eager to serve--and he had a tremendous capacity to enlist others in 
the fights in which he was engaged.
  The real measure, though, of Bob Morrow, was in his devotion to 
family. Few conversations with Bob did not come back to Linda and the 
boys. He was incredibly proud of his family. He was a wonderful son to 
his mother Mary, a terrific brother to his sisters. I know that, as 
much as we will all miss him, his wife Linda and his sons Bobby, Sean, 
and Tim will miss him infinitely more. I hope they know in this time of 
grief and sadness, we extend to them our most sincere condolences and 
support.
  It is impossible to capture in words alone the essence of Bob Morrow. 
From a humble background, through hard work and an absolutely genuine 
optimism and enthusiasm, Bob made himself an important contributor to 
our state, a wonderful and loyal friend, an exemplary husband and 
father, and the kind of outstanding citizen that is the foundation and 
strength of this nation. Bob Morrow was loved by so many--and he will 
be missed by us all.

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