[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 13 (Monday, February 14, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E134]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO INVESTIGATOR RAMONA YOUNG ON HER RETIREMENT FROM THE OFFICE 
                         OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, February 14, 2000

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, on Friday, February 18, 2000, a retirement 
party in honor of Ms. Ramona J. Young will be held at the Garden Manor 
in Aberdeen, NJ. Ms. young will be honored by her friends and family on 
the occasion of her retirement after a distinguished career as an 
Investigator with the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender.
  Ramona Young has devoted herself to helping others in many 
capacities. A registered nurse, she graduated from the Montefiore 
Hospital School of Nursing in the Bronx, New York, and worked as an 
operating room nurse. In January 1975, Ms. Young came to work with the 
Department of the Public Advocate as a Field Representative in the 
Division of Citizen Complaints. In this position, she handled all the 
problems presented to her by New Jersey residents, ranging from motor 
vehicle complaints to issues relating to heating problems, always 
responding in an effective and courteous manner. She remained with the 
Division of Citizen Complaints until July of 1986.
  At that time, Ms. Young was transferred to the Public Advocate's 
Division of Mental Health Advisory in Farmingdale, NJ, as a Field 
Representative covering Monmouth and Ocean counties, NJ. In this 
position, she called upon the use of her nurse's training to help those 
people who, as the saying goes, ``fall between the cracks.'' Ms. Young 
recognized that people are not just bureaucratic statistics. She worked 
tirelessly on behalf of people with legitimate grievances who need 
assistance from supportive, qualified professionals in a position to 
help. Guided by this philosophy, Ms. Young helped countless people 
through the bureaucratic maze for a fair and just resolution of their 
cases.
  In 1995, Ms. Young was transferred from Mental Health Advocacy to the 
Office of Public Defender, Criminal Division, as a Principal State 
Investigator. Her assignment was in the Union County, NJ, Trial Region. 
Once again, Ms. Young proved to be a dedicated and effective advocate 
for the disadvantaged. She always put her experience and training to 
work, combined with a strong measure of compassion and professionalism. 
The result was unfailingly accurate, impartial and professional 
investigations.
  Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to pay tribute to Ramona Young on the 
occasion of her retirement. While the Office of the Public Defender is 
losing a talented and dedicated professional, I hope and trust she will 
continue to contribute her energy and experience to the betterment of 
our community.

                          ____________________