[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 91 (Wednesday, June 27, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1236-E1237]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               LOSS OF A TRUE HEROINE, MRS. SUSAN WADHAMS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BOB SCHAFFER

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 27, 2001

  Mr. SCHAFFER. Mr. Speaker, Tuesday, Colorado lost one of its true 
heroines, Mrs. Susan Wadhams, of Littleton. Many of us on Capitol Hill 
also mourn the loss of Susan. She was my Chief of Staff and played an 
integral part in making many of our most celebrated legislative 
victories possible.
  For most, Susan will be remembered for her boundless passion for 
America. She was an authentic patriot through and through. She enjoyed 
her work in the Congress and counted the opportunity a rare privilege. 
She utilized her station to advance the cause of freedom, liberty and 
human life every day she was here.
  How tragic and ironic it is that her life with us has ended too soon. 
But Susan firmly persuaded all those around her to eventually share in 
her unwavering faith in God, and to take comfort in the promise of 
Heaven. From that standpoint, Mr. Speaker, we know that Susan's life 
has not ended. It is only different. She has surely joined the 
Community of Saints, and this I say with confidence, predicated upon 
what I learned about Susan as our friendship deepened.
  First and foremost, Susan was a pious Christian whose devotion to the 
Lord was established in the ancient traditions of the Roman Catholic 
Church. She was a wife, a mother, and a grandmother. She lived her life 
within this context. Her professional accomplishments were all achieved 
through a consistent ethic wherein the magnanimous goal of improving 
the American environment for family, faith, and children became the 
exclusive measure of merit.
  For me personally, I am deeply inspired by Susan's valor. She left 
Washington two years ago, returning to Colorado in order to spend more 
time with her husband, her family, and the community she loved. Leaving 
the arena of public leadership, however, was not an option for Susan.
  You see, Mr. Speaker, Susan understood America from the perspective 
of our Nation's Founders. She went to her grave convinced that God has 
richly blessed the United States of America and that His design for our 
country was of glorious expectation and hope. She believes that each 
American shares a burden of honor and loyalty to the Almighty and that 
the essence of American citizenship entails a spiritual duty to lead 
through love. Susan's love for her family, friends, neighbors, and 
acquaintances was omnipresent though sometimes subtle or complex; yet 
when fully appreciated was embraced and profound, certainly 
invigorating, but more often, infectious. That was especially the case 
in our office.
  Susan was a splendid woman--elegant in every way. Trivial pursuits 
were of no interest to her. She would not be distracted. She was 
focused and disciplined. She lived life the
  Of course, that means there have been nearly as many whose public 
goals were thwarted by Susan's political prowess. It's simple, Mr. 
Speaker, if Susan Wadhams was on your side, your chances of winning 
were quite good. If she was against you, you best think of another line 
of work. Her opponents respected her, too.
  Susan's passion for America was her advantage, and her faith was her 
power. This was a woman who knew herself and knew the times she was in; 
whose confidence exuded leadership and whose leadership caused action.
  Susan's battle with cancer was no less heroic. If she was ever in 
fear, it was well concealed. She was a model of courage, even before 
her affliction. Though too short, her life was complete and her legacy 
is unmistakable. I thank God for my acquaintance with Susan. Our 
friendship is one I genuinely regard as a gift of Providence. I miss 
Susan Wadhams, and I will never forget her.
  Mr. Speaker, others have shared with me their sentiments on the 
passing of Susan. I am deeply grateful for the outpouring of condolence 
by so many, and I pledge to pass along these comments to her survivors. 
Their appreciation, I assure the House, will be great, too.
  Mr. Speaker, at this point, I hereby submit for the Record the 
comments I've so far received, along with two press accounts of Susan's 
life.

       For Susan, being tough as nails was second nature when 
     dealing with politics, earning her a reputation I truly 
     admired. However, what impressed me most about Susan was her 
     willingness to aid women in entering the political arena. Not 
     only was she a mentor for me, but for many other women who 
     have crossed the Schaffer office threshold.
       Susan loved life, the west, her family and friends. She 
     once told me she loved daisies. Since then, I have not looked 
     at a daisy, nor will I ever without remembering her. I have 
     lost a friend.--Brandi Graham

                                  ____
                                  

       Susan Wadhams hired me for my first job on Capitol Hill. In 
     my interview she said, `Not many young women have the courage 
     to move 2,000 miles away from their friends and family to 
     pursue their ambitions. I think it's great that you are 
     working to follow your dreams and I would like to be a part 
     of helping young women like you in politics.' She opened a 
     door for me and I will never forget that. I would not be 
     where I am today without her. Susan left an indelible mark on 
     all who knew her, she will be greatly missed.--Melissa 
     Carlson, former staff member for Congressman Bob Schaffer and 
     current Deputy Press Secretary for Governor George E. Pataki, 
     (R-NY).

                                  ____
                                  

       The best memory Susan ever shared with me was from her 
     childhood in Colorado. She had a pet lamb which stayed in a 
     pen just outside her bedroom window. When Susan went to bed 
     at night, she would open the window and pull the lamb inside. 
     When the lamb became too big to pull through the window, it 
     would cry outside, unable to understand that it could no 
     longer come in. I love this story. I'm going to miss Susan.--
     Kriste Kafer, the Heritage Foundation.

                                  ____
                                  

       I'd like to add that Susan was very, very happy to be back 
     here in Colorado with her family during this last year. We'll 
     miss her dearly.--Kent Holsinger

                                  ____
                                  

       I think these sums up Susan pretty well:
       Strong: Susan was perhaps one of the strongest individuals 
     I have ever had the privilege of knowing.
       Undeterred: She accomplished much through shear will and 
     force of personality.
       Smart: She possessed a lightning quick wit and a firm grasp 
     of the issues.
       Activist: Her activist nature was contagious.
       Nationalist: A true patriot if there ever was one.--Rob 
     Nanfelt

                                  ____
                                  

       When Susan first interviewed me for a Legislative position 
     with Bob, something just clicked. We spent most of it talking 
     about our lives and how much we missed Colorado. She had 
     accomplished so much in her life. As a young staffer striving 
     to make it in the competitive Capitol Hill environment, I was 
     impressed by her. I wanted to learn from her success. Once I 
     started working with Bob, I saw her as a mentor. We talked 
     freely about God, family and the importance of focusing on 
     the right priorities in life. She discussed her previous bout 
     with cancer and how important it was to have access to 
     quality health care. I am sorry she didn't make it through 
     this time. My thoughts and prayers go out to her family. We 
     will miss her.--Stacy Brooks

                                  ____
                                  

       Right up to the very end, May 15 to be exact, Susan was 
     still thinking of others--

[[Page E1237]]

     her son's birthday was coming up and she needed a flag flown 
     over the Capitol, and she needed it by June 17 to present to 
     him for his birthday. To me it really showed the love she had 
     for her family, as well as other people.--Gwen Schwartz

                                  ____
                                  

       I think that she was a deep down good woman who love 
     politics and loved to be involved. She will definitely be 
     missed in CO and here in DC.--Eric Price

                                  ____
                                  

       Susan was a terrific Chief in that she possessed the 
     management skills necessary for the position but 
     legislatively, she was as green as the rest of us. Bob's 
     first staff, his freshman staff, had two people with prior 
     legislative experience and the rest of his were fresh from 
     Colorado. We knew tons about the way Colorado's government 
     worked, but were unfamiliar with the whole process of 
     introducing legislation, Whip meetings, who to call if we 
     needed a picture hung--all the little things that make an 
     office hum. The flow of information was always two ways and 
     we never felt as if Susan was above us, rather she was with 
     us, learning together.
       Under her guidance, our service to Coloradans was crafted 
     to be responsive and diligent. Always steady in her 
     convictions, Susan approached the challenges of managing the 
     boss, and his staff, with a common sense approach. Never 
     acting on her own self interests, she skillfully advocated 
     the staff and their needs but maintained here authority with 
     a ``buck stops here'' mentality. She was the best Chief a 
     staffer could ask for. Having worked for her, I am a better 
     person.--Marcus Dunn

                                  ____
                                  

       I admired her very much--she was a great mentor to me!--
     Marge Klein

                                  ____
                                  

             [From the Rocky Mountain News, June 26, 2001]

               GOP Activist Susan Wadhams Dies at Age 55


       Campaigner known for astute judgment and love of politics

                   (By Lynn Bartels and Michele Ames)

       Susan Wadhams, who campaigned on the ground for Republican 
     candidates while her state patrolman father flew three 
     Colorado governors around the state, was known as a strong-
     willed woman who stood by her convictions.
       Wadhams, the former chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Bob 
     Schaffer and the spokeswoman for the Colorado Department of 
     Natural Resources, died of cancer Monday.
       She was 55.
       ``She is going to leave a terrible hole in the political 
     fabric of Colorado,'' said Walt Kleim, a former campaign 
     manger who hired Wadhams.
       Several friends say they knew of only one other person 
     whose interest in politics rivaled hers: her husband, Dick 
     Wadhams, spokesman for Gov. Bill Owens.
       ``They were perfect for each other,'' said Roy Palmer, 
     Owens' chief of staff. ``We've lost a great woman.''
       Funeral services are pending.
       Susan Marie McBreen was born May 4, 1946, in Birmingham, 
     Ala., to Lucille and Donald McBreen, while her father was a 
     military pilot.
       After his stint in the service, Donald McBreen returned to 
     Colorado and Elbert County and joined the Colorado State 
     Patrol.
       Donald McBreen flew three governors: John Love, John 
     Vanderhoof and Dick Lamm.
       Susan McBreen got her political start helping former U.S. 
     Sen. Bill Armstrong in his first congressional run in 1972.
       ``She was a very astute judge of people and of issues,'' 
     Armstrong said.
       Susan and Dick Wadhams met in 1980 while working on former 
     Colorado Republican Party chairman Bo Callaway's U.S. Senate 
     race.
       Klein begged Susan to leave her bank job and work for him.
       ``As it turned out it's one of those things you do that 
     makes you look really smart afterward,'' said Klein, who runs 
     a Denver marketing and advertising firm.
       Susan McBreen married Dick Wadhams April 17, 1982, in 
     Denver.
       She worked as government affairs director at StorageTek in 
     Broomfield from 1987 to 1996 before going to Washington to 
     manage Rep. Bob Schaffer's five congressional offices.
       She came home to Colorado in 1999. The next year, Greg 
     Walcher, director of the Department of Natural Resources, 
     hired her as communications director.
       She is survived by her husband; her father; her brother; 
     Craig, an officer with the Aurora Fire Department; two 
     children; Khristie Barker, 33, and Gregory Farrell, 31; and 
     two grandsons.

                                  ____
                                  

                 [From the Denver Post, June 26, 2001]

                    State Figure Susan Wadhams Dies


                   DNR spokeswoman loses cancer fight

                     (By Fred Brown and Theo Stein)

       Susan Wadhams, chief spokeswoman for the Colorado 
     Department of Natural Resources, died Monday evening after a 
     long struggle with cancer. She was 55.
       Wadhams, the wife of Gov. Bill Owens' press secretary Dick 
     Wadhams, had worked for the state since January 1999.
       ``Susan was a close personal friend,'' Owens said. 
     ``Colorado has lost a very special person.''
       As the main public information officer for the Department 
     of Natural Resources, Wadhams had to stay current on some of 
     the state's stickiest land management debates.
       In the past year, she wrote press releases abut the state's 
     support for the Animas-La Plata dam project, a challenge to 
     federal population data on black-tailed prairie dogs and a 
     controversial predator control study.
       Susan Wadhams also served as head of the interdepartmental 
     information team, which is responsible for coordinating 
     information on oil and gas exploration, the state land board, 
     forestry and parks.
       She also was a member of the Judicial Nominating Commission 
     for the Jefferson County district.
       ``She was a good person, a hard worker, and she had a 
     pretty good understanding of how wildlife worked in the metro 
     area,'' said Dale Lashnitz, the chief of public affairs at 
     the Division of Wildlife, an agency within Natural Resources 
     Department. ``She had a good understanding of how natural 
     resources worked overall.''
       Before joining the department, Wadhams had worked for three 
     years in Washington, D.C., as chief of staff for U.S. Rep. 
     Bob Schaffer, R-Colo.
       From 1988 to 1997, she was director of government affairs 
     for Storage Technology Corp. of Louisville and had served as 
     the finance director for the Colorado Republican Party for 
     three years before that.
       Born May 4, 1946, in Birmingham, Ala., Wadhams moved to 
     Colorado with her family at a young age, as her father was 
     ending his World War II military service.
       She married Dick Wadhams on April 17, 1982, in Denver.
       In addition to her husband, she is also survived by their 
     two children, Khristie Barker of Omaha and Gregory Farrell of 
     Parker; and two grandchildren.

  Mr. Speaker, Susan Wadhams was a worthy Christian, a good wife, 
devoted mother, and a proud grandmother. She was a great American.
  In conclusion, I beg the attention of the House, that we may lift 
Susan up in prayer, and petition the Almighty for the Heavenly repose 
of her soul. May her soul and all the souls of the faithfully departed, 
through the Mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

                          ____________________