[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 105 (Thursday, July 22, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1636]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 IN TRIBUTE TO THE LATE MARGARET ROACH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. PETER DEUTSCH

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 22, 1999

  Mr. DEUTSCH. Mr. Speaker, the South Florida community has lost a 
truly great leader. I am saddened that Margaret Blake Roach passed away 
at the age of 88 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, on July 16, 1999. We mourn 
the loss of a woman whose legacy will undoubtedly be remembered for 
years to come.
  Margaret Roach was at the forefront of the social justice movement in 
Broward County for three decades. Well known as the founder and 
president emeritus of the Urban League of Broward County, Margaret was 
also the founding member of the Broward/South Palm Beach region of the 
National Conference for Community and Justice, formerly the National 
Conference of Christians and Jews. Her leadership was instrumental in 
the fight for social equality throughout South Florida and, indeed, the 
entire state of Florida as well.
  During her 24 years as an administrator in Broward County Schools and 
a trustee and former chairperson of the board of trustees in Broward 
County Schools and a trustee and former chairperson of the board of 
trustees at Broward Community College, Margaret Roach was very active 
in various civic matters. Though she retired from the school district 
in 1975, Margaret continued to work on behalf of children nationwide. 
She played significant roles in the United Way, Habitat for Humanity, 
and the Cleveland Clinic. It truly seems that there was no organization 
that worked for the greater good in Broward County in which Margaret 
Roach did not play a role.
  Mr. Speaker, while Margaret Roach's passing is a tremendous loss for 
the South Florida community, I can say without hesitation that her 
memory lives on through the work of the many organizations to which she 
dedicated her life. Margaret was an extraordinary human being who went 
above and beyond what she needed to be, because of her sincere desire 
to help others. For the thousands of lives she has touched, I thank and 
praise Margaret Blake Roach for her hard work, her leadership, and her 
compassion for others.

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