[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 72 (Wednesday, May 23, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E911]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


       HONORING PRISCILLA DONER REETZ OF BREWSTER, MASSACHUSETTS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. WILLIAM D. DELAHUNT

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 23, 2001

  Mr. DELAHUNT. Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, May 12, family and friends 
gathered at the Museum of Natural History on Cape Cod to celebrate the 
memory of our colleague, Priscilla Reetz.
  For 10 years in our Hyannis office--with Representative Studds, then 
Representative Delahunt, she worked each day to help people in need 
across the cape and islands, with a heart of gold and joyousness to 
spare. Actress, entrepreneur, novelist, kayaker--Priscilla touched 
countless lives, including ours, with irresistible zest.
  We are deeply saddened by her death, and will miss her dearly. Our 
thoughts and prayers are with her four children and seven 
grandchildren.
  It is with respect and admiration for this remarkable friend and 
coworker that I commend to you the obituary for Ms. Reetz that appeared 
in the Cape Cod Times on Thursday, May 10, 2001:

                       Priscilla Doner Reetz, 72


       Caseworker for Rep. Studds, Delahunt; storyteller; kayaker

       BREWSTER.--Priscilla Doner Reetz, 72, a resident of 
     Brewster, died unexpectedly Monday in Brewster.
       She was the wife of the late Donald Reetz for 25 years.
       Mrs. Reetz was born in Watertown, N.Y., and received an 
     associate's degree from Rochester Institute of Technology. 
     She raised her family in Rochester, N.Y., and in the Finger 
     Lakes region. At age 49, she began a career as a commercial 
     actress in the Boston area.
       She moved to Brewster in 1982. She was the proprietor of a 
     small antiques business, and was a fixture behind the counter 
     at the Brewster General Store for many years. She was a 
     storyteller at the Brewster Ladies Library and the Brewster 
     Book Store.
       Mrs. Reetz was a caseworker in the Hyannis office of U.S. 
     Rep. Gerry Studds, and later Bill Delahunt, for nearly 10 
     years.
       ``Priscilla loved her work because she got so much 
     satisfaction from helping people in need,'' Delahunt said. 
     ``From working with the disabled to those in need of housing, 
     she moved mountains every day for countless Cape Codders.''
       Mrs. Reetz was very interested in Chinese and American 
     history. She was at work on a collection of poetry for 
     children and a novel at the time of her death.
       She was an avid kayaker and loved kayaking on the bays and 
     creeks of the Cape. She also hiked frequently with the 
     Appalachian Mountain Club.
       She is survived by three sons, David Reetz of Santa Cruz, 
     Calif., Garin Reetz of Dallas, Texas, and Allan Reetz of 
     Meriden, N.H.; a daughter, Sarah Reetz of New York, N.Y.; and 
     seven grandchildren.
       A memorial service will be held at 5:15 p.m. Saturday at 
     the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, Route 6A, Brewster.
       Memorial donations may be made to the Cape Cod Museum of 
     Natural History, Route 6A, Brewster, MA 02631; or to Safe 
     Harbor,
     c/o Community Action Committee of the Cape and Islands, P.O. 
     Box 954, Hyannis, MA 02601.

     

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