[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 86 (Friday, June 30, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1159]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E1159]]



             SPECIAL 80TH BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE TO SYLVIA ENGEL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 29, 2000

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, of the many things I've put into the 
Congressional Record, this one gives me the most pleasure. Today, on 
June 29, 2000, my mother is celebrating her 80th birthday.
  My mother, Sylvia Engel, or SeRoy as everyone calls her, has always 
been the proverbial ``live wire.'' When I was a little boy, she would 
take me to see her roller skate in the roller derby practices. She also 
is an accomplished actress, and would perform on stage in community and 
off-Broadway shows. I always say that my ability to speak in front of 
groups stems from watching my mother do the same, since I was a little 
boy. She was always very outgoing and to this day goes bowling every 
week, and until just a few years ago directed the singing and dancing 
shows at her condominium in Florida.
  My mother has always been a very kind person, loving and caring to 
her family, one, who along with my father always taught me right from 
wrong, and stressed education as the key to elevating oneself in 
helping to gain a better future.
  My mother and my father, Phil, had the benefit of 47 wonderful years 
of marriage together, where they worked hard and struggled to provide a 
good life for me and my sister, Dori. Today, my mother is grandmother 
to 11 children. Pat and I have given my mother 3 grandchildren: Julia, 
Jonathan and Philip, and Dori and Jordan have given my mother 8: David, 
Rachel, Yosef, Yacov, Naomi, Malky, Esty, and Ricky.
  My mother was born in New York City as the second child of Eastern 
European Jewish immigrants, Yudis or Julia and Joe, who came to this 
country, like so many others, for a better life. Her mother, my 
grandmother, Julia, lived with us when I was growing up and raised my 
mother and her sister Bea and brother Irving, because she was widowed 
at an early age. My mother, who they tell me was a ``tomboy'' growing 
up, learned to be self-reliant and resilient at an early age, traits 
which she still manifests today.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to tell my mother how very much I love her and 
what a tremendous inspiration she is to me today and has been so my 
whole life. I hesitated entering this into the Congressional Record and 
giving her a surprise party, because she doesn't look her age, and 
doesn't want too many people to know. But having achieved this 
milestone is something of which to be proud, especially after two heart 
surgeries and a lifetime of giving herself to family, friends, and 
everyone with whom she's come into contact. With my mother, one can 
certainly say she may be one year older than last year, but she'll 
never be old.
  Congratulations, and Mazel Tov, mom. May you have many, many more 
years of life's pleasures, and may you continue to brighten the lives 
of all those you touch.

                          ____________________