[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 111 (Monday, August 2, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1716]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          VAN ARSDALES HONORED

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, August 2, 1999

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring to the attention of 
my colleagues, two distinguished community leaders, Tom and Suzette van 
Arsdale. My good friends Tom and Suzette will be honored this month by 
the Luzerne Foundation for their community service and leadership. I am 
pleased and proud to have been asked to participate in this tribute.
  Born in New York City in 1937, Tom van Arsdale grew up in New 
England. Tom joined the U.S. Army after high school and served in the 
Signal Corps as a top secret cryptographer for two years before 
receiving an honorable discharge. Tom began his business career as a 
teller in a New Jersey bank in 1959. Within two years, Tom was a bank 
officer and within four years, he was a senior executive. While 
pursuing his career, Tom was also earning degrees from Routon Valley 
Community College and Edison State College.
  Tom's business acumen gained the attention in the banking world when 
he assumed the position of President of a troubled New Jersey bank, 
guided it out of its financial crisis, converted it to a public bank 
and subsequently sold it to the Dime Bank of New York. Tom continued to 
serve as the bank's President and CEO and was named to a directorship 
of the Dime Bank of New York.
  Tom moved to northeastern Pennsylvania in 1990 after being named 
President and CEO of Franklin First Financial Corporation and Franklin 
First Savings Bank. After Franklin First was sold to Onbancorp in 1993, 
Tom continued to serve as its President and was elected to the parent 
bank's board until his recent retirement.
  Suzette van Arsdale also spent her early years in banking. Born in 
New Jersey, Suzette rose in the ranks rapidly shortly after beginning 
her banking career, becoming a corporate officer of one of the Nation's 
largest commercial banks. While working full time, Suzette earned a 
degree in management from Kean University. Tom and Suzette were married 
in 1986 and now have two children: Thomas Robert, age 12, and Matthew 
Ernest, age 20 months.
  Mr. Speaker, both van Arsdales have been active members of the 
community. Tom serves on several local boards, including the Luzerne 
County Community College Foundation, the Committee for Economic Growth, 
the Wyoming Valley United Way, Wyoming Seminary, College Misericordia, 
the Central Division of Pennsylvania Economy League, WVIA public radio 
and television, and the Northeast Philharmonic Orchestra, to name just 
a few. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Bankers Association and 
America's Community Bankers and a former chair of the Community Bankers 
Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.
  Suzette has an equally impressive resume of community activity and 
involvement, currently serving or having served as President of the 
Junior League, member of the Presidents Council of King's College, 
second chair the Wyoming Valley Red Cross, member of the Wyoming 
Seminary Board of Directors, and as an active member of United Way of 
Wyoming Valley, Leadership Wilkes-Barre, Family Services Association 
and the Luzerne Foundation. Suzette has helped raise funds for the 
Osterhout Library, the Back Mountain Library, the Northeast 
Philharmonic, the American Cancer Society, the St. Vincent's South 
Kitchen, the Catherine McCauley House, the Meals on Wheels program, the 
Fine Arts Fiesta, and the Theater on the Green at College Misericordia.
  In 1998, both Tom and Suzette were honored by Her Majesty, the Queen 
of England. Tom was invested to the Order of St. John as an Associate 
Commander while Suzette was given a similar honor by the Queen and also 
invested to the Cathedral of the Church of St. John by Lord Prior.
  Mr. Speaker, I am extremely proud to call Tom and Suzette van Arsdale 
my friends. In just 10 years, they have both had an enormous impact on 
northeastern Pennsylvania. I have called on them numerous times to help 
support community efforts and they have always provided their 
leadership. More importantly, they have been wonderful friends to me, 
my wife, Nancy, and to many people throughout the area. I am proud to 
join with the community in thanking them for their years of service and 
wishing them the best for the future.

                          ____________________