[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 57 (Tuesday, May 1, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E679]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO JONA GOLDRICH

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. HOWARD L. BERMAN

                             of california

                          HON. HENRY A. WAXMAN

                             of california

                           HON. BRAD SHERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 1, 2001

  Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, it is a great honor to join the Jewish 
Federation of Greater Los Angeles' Real Estate & Construction Division 
in paying tribute to Jona Goldrich, for his generous service to a great 
variety of worthy organizations and causes and to the Jewish community 
worldwide. Jona has given tirelessly of his every resource, including 
the most cherished--his time--to improve the lives of his fellow 
citizens. He is to be saluted at a special dinner in his honor on May 
31st in Los Angeles.
  Jona is one of the most active supporters of the Jewish Federation of 
Greater Los Angeles in its mission to provide a wide array of agencies 
and programs with funds for food, shelter, health care, education, 
counseling, rescue and resettlement for individuals in need.
  Jona came to the United States as an immigrant and created a real 
estate company so successful that he is widely acknowledged to be one 
of the most important and successful developers and managers of housing 
in the state of California. His distinguished career in real estate has 
earned him honor and recognition from virtually every professional 
organization in his field, including the ``Man of the Year'' award from 
the National Housing Conference. He has received accolades from 
numerous charitable groups for his work on behalf of those in need of 
affordable housing. As a member of the Chairman's Council of the 
Weingart Center, he has worked tirelessly to provide leadership and to 
seek innovative solutions to break the cycle of homelessness in Los 
Angeles.
  Jona was born in Lvov, Poland in 1927. Out of fear for his life, his 
parents smuggled him out of Europe in 1942. He was sent to refugee 
camps in pre-Israel Palestine and later served in the Israeli Navy and 
the Merchant Marines in the military actions of 1948 and 1949 that 
resulted in the creation of the State of Israel. In 1953, he immigrated 
to the United States, traveling by bus from Boston to California and 
settling in Los Angeles because its climate reminded him of Israel.
  Teaming up with Sol Kest, he formed G & K Industries, an innovative 
leader in the Southern California real estate market. Among the great 
accomplishments of this important company is the development of the 
Marina Pointe Apartments in Marina del Rey.
  The great energy that has made Jona so successful in his business 
endeavors also fueled his tireless work on behalf of the Jewish people 
and the cause of remembrance. He has been honored with the National 
Conference of Christians and Jews Humanitarian Award, the American 
Jewish Congress Civil Achievement Award, and the President's Club Award 
of the B'nai B'rith, among many others. He is a member of the American 
Friends of Tel Aviv University and a great supporter of the Israel 
Philharmonic.
  Among the greatest achievements, of Jona and his wife, Doretta are 
their two outstanding daughters, and among the greatest pleasures they 
enjoy is time spent with their grandson and granddaughter.
  It is a great pleasure today to honor Jona Goldrich as a great 
champion of the Jewish Community in California and in Israel and to 
congratulate him on his philanthropic and professional service. We take 
pleasure in inviting our colleagues to join us in this salute to Jona.

                          ____________________