[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 28 (Tuesday, March 6, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E282]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN HONOR OF GEROME RITA STEFANSKI

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 6, 2001

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of 
Gerome Rita Stefanski. A loving mother of five children and a 
courageous businesswoman, Mrs. Stefanski's life serves as a beautiful 
example of the American dream come true.
  Daughter of Helen and Alexander Rutkowski, Gerome Rita Stefanski was 
raised in a loving and caring environment. From her parents, Mrs. 
Stefanski learned strong family values which helped her in raising her 
own children. Married in 1937, Mrs. Stefanski was mother to five 
children: Ben, Hermine Cech, Abigail, Floyd and Marc. Throughout her 
life, Gerome Rita Stefanski always made her family her first priority. 
Foregoing a career as a social worker, Mrs. Stefanski chose to stay at 
home and raise her children to assure that they would grow up in the 
same loving environment which she had known as a child.
  Mrs. Stefanski attended college at Notre Dame College of Ohio and 
earned a master's degree from Catholic University of Washington, D.C. 
At her college graduation, Mrs. Stefanski was awarded the Bishop 
Schrembs Cross for recognition of her superior essay on the subject of 
religion as a working principle of life. She was also recently awarded 
an honorary doctorate from Notre Dame College of Ohio.
  Shortly after her marriage, Gerome Rita Stefanski was an important 
partner in the founding of the Third Federal Savings Association. 
Working closely with her husband Ben, she prepared all of the original 
organizational documents. Mrs. Stefanski served as the sole advertising 
manager and wrote all of its publications for almost fifty years. A 
pioneer of the increased role of women in the workplace, Mrs. Stefanski 
became the Third Federal Savings Association's first female director in 
1981.
  Mrs. Gerome Rita Stefanski was a brilliant businesswomen and a loving 
mother, My fellow Congressmen, please join me in celebrating the life 
of Gerome Rita Stefanski.

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