[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 30 (Thursday, March 8, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S2067]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO MRS. MATINA SARBANES

  Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to the life and 
legacy of Mrs. Matina Sarbanes, the mother of our dear colleague, 
Senator Paul Sarbanes.
  Mrs. Sarbanes personified the American dream. She came to this county 
from Greece in 1930 to build a better life. She and her husband, the 
late Spyros Sarbanes, settled in Salisbury on the Eastern Shore of 
Maryland. Mrs. Sarbanes used America's unique opportunity structure to 
build a business and a better life for their children. She and her 
husband opened the Mayflower Grill, a restaurant known for its good 
food and warm atmosphere. While the restaurant eventually closed in 
1960, 3 years after the death of Mr. Sarbanes, people still share 
stories about their meals and conversations with the Sarbanes family at 
the Mayflower Grill.
  The restaurant was truly a family-owned and operated business. The 
children grew up waiting tables and washing dishes, developing a strong 
work ethic and value of service. Although important, Mrs. Sarbanes knew 
that hard work was not enough to ensure a better life in America for 
her children. Having never finished school herself, Mrs. Sarbanes 
taught her children the value of a good education. She knew that in 
America, as in few other places in the world, children of immigrants 
could go anywhere that hard work and education would take them.
  She instilled in her children the values they needed to succeed: 
faith, family and patriotism. Her children put these values into 
action. Her oldest son attended one of the country's top colleges, 
became a Rhodes Scholar, and serves in one of our Nation's highest 
elected offices. Her son Anthony had a long distinguished career in 
education and in the military. Her daughter Zoe was a community leader 
and business woman in New Jersey.
  Mrs. Sarbanes was a patriotic woman with a deep love for this country 
and for her Eastern Shore community. She was appreciative of America 
and all the opportunities it afforded her. And while she reaped the 
benefits of her life in America, she also knew the importance of giving 
back to her community. Mrs. Sarbanes passed this patriotism and love 
for her community on to her children. To learn all she could about the 
United States, it was not unusual for CNN to be on her television or 
for politics to be the topic of conversation at the Sarbanes' home.
  While Mrs. Sarbanes was proud to be an American citizen, she never 
forgot her Greek heritage. She was active in the Greek community in 
Delmarva and helped found the St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Ocean 
City, which continues to thrive. While America provided her with 
opportunity, Greece provided her with a unique perspective on life and 
appreciation for all she and her family had accomplished. Mrs. Sarbanes 
lived to see each of her children and grandchildren finish college and 
grow up to be success stories in their own right.
  We know how proud Mrs. Sarbanes was of her family, and she must know 
how proud her family was of her. She lived a wonderful life in America 
and touched many people including her church community, her Greek 
community, her patrons from the restaurant, and her countless friends. 
She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. Her family 
and many friends are in my thoughts and prayers.
  I ask unanimous consent that an editorial on Mrs. Sarbanes from the 
Daily Times in Salisbury be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

            [From the Salisbury Daily Times, Feb. 24, 2001]

                          The Dream Epitomized

       Matina Sarbanes epitomized the American success story. 
     Through fortitude and hard work, she was able to live out the 
     American dream. Born in the village of Elika in southern 
     Greece, Sarbanes was attracted to the United States and its 
     promise of opportunity. She joined family in New Jersey in 
     1930 and married Spyros Sarbanes in 1932.
       The couple moved to Salisbury soon after and opened the 
     famous Mayflower Grill on Main Street. While forging a life 
     here, the Sarbanes family set an example for all to follow. 
     They raised three solid children--two boys and a girl. They 
     were an immigrant family who knew the meaning of hard work. 
     In their children they instilled the value of service and a 
     work ethic that was obvious to all. The Sarbanes children 
     grew up waiting tables, washing dishes and mopping floors in 
     the restaurant. Through the family business, they learned the 
     value of education and developed an understanding of people.
       At the center of all this effort and educating was Matina 
     Sarbanes. She was a strong believer in education, though she 
     never finished school. Her eldest son, Paul, is perhaps 
     Salisbury's most distinguished native. He graduated from 
     Wicomico High School and went on to be a Rhodes Scholar and 
     graduated from Princeton University. Today he sits as a 
     member of the U.S. Senate--a seat he has held with quiet 
     distinction since 1976. Her son Anthony has remained in 
     Salisbury, where he is a valuable community leader; daughter 
     Zoe has found success in New Jersey.
       Spyros Sarbanes, 16 years older than his wife, died in 
     1957. Mrs. Sarbanes continued on her own for three years, but 
     shut down the Mayflower Grill in 1960. When Mrs. Sarbanes 
     died Wednesday at age 92, a little bit of the old Salisbury 
     passed with her. But her spirit, just like the spirit of 
     others in her time who overcame real obstacles to make a life 
     and build a family in this country, only grows stronger when 
     we pause to reflect.

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