[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 104 (Tuesday, July 24, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1409-E1410]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


    TRIBUTE TO ROSALIE S. WOLF, PIONEER IN FIGHT AGAINST ELDER ABUSE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES P. McGOVERN

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 24, 2001

  Mr. McGovern. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Rosalie S. 
Wolf, Ph.D. Rosalie, an international leader in the fight against elder 
abuse, the long time Director of the Institute on Aging of the 
University of Massachusetts Memorial Health Care System in Worcester, 
as well as a friend and constituent, passed away on June 26, 2001.
  Rosalie Wolf was the Founder and President of the National Committee 
for the Prevention of Elder Abuse. Through her research, advocacy, and 
coalition building skills, Rosalie brought the issue of elder abuse to 
the halls of Congress in search of legislative solutions. She helped 
raise the public consciousness about the scourge of elder abuse, 
neglect and exploitation.
  During Rosalie's tenure as president, the Committee advised Congress 
and the Executive Branch on legislation and other programs that were 
needed to combat elder abuse and neglect. Rosalie testified on several 
occasions before Congress and served as a project director for three 
national programs funded by the Administration on Aging regarding elder 
abuse information dissemination. She also served as a delegate to the 
1995 White House Conference on Aging and she helped secure passage of a 
resolution on elder abuse prevention.
  In addition to these accomplishments, she also served as an 
organizational partner and member of the management team for the 
National Center on Elder Abuse in Washington. Rosalie worked as Editor 
and contributor to the highly acclaimed Journal of Elder Abuse and 
Neglect. Her impact was felt internationally when she worked to found 
the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse.
  Rosalie Wolf was the recipient of many awards, most notably the 
Donald P. Kent award from the Gerontological Society of America for 
exemplifying the highest standards of professional leadership in 
gerontology through teaching, service, and interpretation of 
gerontology to the larger society.
  The UMass Memorial Health Care System was fortunate to have Rosalie 
Wolf as the Executive Director of the Institute on Aging. National 
aging policy grows more important as the nation continues to age. 
Rosalie Wolf, through her work and leadership, became a true champion 
to those who were victimized by elder abuse.
  The national aging network mourns the passing of Rosalie Wolf. She 
was a leader with great intellect and integrity. She was dedicated to 
her work and determined to make a difference in the fight against elder 
abuse. I offer these words on behalf of Rosalie and on behalf of her 
family, her many professional colleagues, and admirers.
  At this point, I submit into the Record two additional items related 
to Rosalie Wolf. The first is her obituary from the Worcester Telegram 
and Gazette. The second is a heartfelt tribute written by a close 
colleague of Rosalie's from California, Lisa Nerenbert.

                            Rosalie Wolf, 74

       Worcester.--Rosalie (Savat) Wolf, 74, of 25 Ashmore Road, 
     an active researcher and worker in the fields of elder abuse 
     prevention and gerontology, died Tuesday, June 26, in UMass 
     Memorial Medical Center--Memorial Campus after an illness.
       Her husband, Wallace W. Wolf, died in 1988. She leaves two 
     sons, Dr. Gary L. Wolf of Worcester and Dr. Jonathan S. Wolf 
     of Upper Saddle River, N.J.; a daughter, Amy Wolf of New York 
     City; her twin sister, Constance Kreshtool of Wilmington, 
     Del.; and five grandchildren. A sister, Nancy Melnik of 
     Cherry Hill, N.J., predeceased her. She was born in 
     Worcester, daughter of Samuel and Tillie (Lederman) Savat. 
     She graduated from Classical High School and graduated with 
     Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude honors from University of 
     Wisconsin. She earned a doctorate in social welfare policy 
     from Brandeis University in 1976.
       Since 1990, Mrs. Wolf was executive director of the 
     Institute on Aging at UMass Memorial Medical Center, and 
     assistant professor of family medicine, community health and 
     psychiatry at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. 
     From 1981 to 1990, Mrs. Wolf was associate director of the 
     University Center on Aging at University of Massachusetts 
     Medical Center. She previously was director of the 
     gerontology planning project at the University of 
     Massachusetts Medical Center for four years. From 1976 to 
     1977, she was a project director of data monitoring and 
     evaluation for the Division of Family Health Services, 
     Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
       She received numerous grants and awards for her research in 
     elder abuse and authored and edited many articles on the 
     subject. She was the founder and editor of the journal of 
     Elder Abuse and Neglect.
       Mrs. Wolf was active in the gerontology field on the local 
     and national level, serving in several capacities. She was 
     honored by Temple Emanuel as a life trustee. She also 
     assisted in writing legislation for a number of states and 
     testified before the U.S. Congress at least once or twice a 
     year for the past 10 years.
       The funeral service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, 
     June 28, in Temple Emanuel, 280 May St. Burial will be in 
     B'nai B'rith Cemetery. Memorial observance will be held 
     through Sunday, July 1, at the residence of Dr. and Mrs. Gary 
     Wolf, 10 Donna Road. Memorial donations may be made to the 
     Wallace W. Wolf Endowment Fund, Jewish Healthcare Center, 629 
     Salisbury St., Worcester, MA 01609; or to Temple Emanuel, 280 
     May St., Worcester, MA 01602. Perlman Funeral Home, 1026 Main 
     St., is directing arrangements.

                     Rosalie Wolf, PhD--In Memoriam

          (Submitted by Lisa Nerenberg, friend and colleague)

       For over two decades, Dr. Rosalie Wolf was the driving 
     force behind a movement to ensure the safety, security, and 
     dignity of our nation's most vulnerable members . . . the 
     elderly. She devoted much of her career to exploring the 
     causes, patterns, and treatment of elder abuse and neglect 
     through her own groundbreaking research and by promoting the 
     work of others. She edited the Journal of Elder Abuse & 
     Neglect, spearheaded multiple demonstration projects, and 
     provided advise and help to countless organizations and 
     individuals.
       Dr. Wolf was committed to helping seniors remain in their 
     homes and communities, avoiding unnecessary 
     institutionalization. But she also recognized that achieving 
     that goal required a safety net of supportive and protective 
     services, and that to create such a safety net required the 
     cooperation of multiple disciplines. Much of her work was 
     devoted to promoting cross-disciplinary exchange and 
     cooperation. She founded the National Committee for the 
     Prevention of Elder Abuse, a remarkable diverse network of 
     researchers, educators, police, prosecutors, advocates, 
     health care professionals, and protective service personnel 
     to promote research, advocate for enlightened policy, raise 
     public awareness, create grassroots local programs, and 
     promote collaboration. It is a distinctive and distinguished 
     group;

[[Page E1410]]

     the common thread among its members is the respect they share 
     for Dr. Wolf. Bringing together people with diverse 
     perspectives hasn't always been without strife. Different 
     disciplines bring divergent views and interests to the table, 
     particularly with respect to personal freedom, family 
     responsibility, society's obligation to protect vulnerable 
     members, and holding perpetrators accountable. Dr. Wolf 
     thrived on creative exchange and believed that when 
     committed, thinking people come together with a common 
     purpose, their differences strengthen and enrich the field.
       Her broad focus was also reflected in her work worldwide. 
     She collaborated with scholars, teachers, and practitioners 
     in Finland, Japan, India, Argentina, and the UK. She was a 
     founding member and chair of the International Network for 
     the Prevention of Elder Abuse, a member of the World Health 
     Organization Consulting Group for the World Report on 
     Violence, and a member of the Steering Committee of the 
     United Nations International Working group on Trauma.
       Dr. Wolf answered calls to the National Committee herself. 
     Whether it was a senator calling for background on a proposed 
     bill or a high school student writing a paper on abuse, she 
     was equally receptive, equally gratified by their interest, 
     and equally willing to drop what she was doing to be of help. 
     She was a valued source of information and assistance for the 
     Justice Department, the Department of Health and Human 
     Services, and the National Institute on Aging. She served on 
     government task forces and focus groups, and testified before 
     Congressional committees on numerous occasions.
       Dr. Wolf was Director of the institute on Aging at UMass 
     Memorial Health Care in Worcester, and Assistant Professor in 
     the Department of Medicine and Family Practice Studies at the 
     University of Massachusetts Medical School. She was a member 
     of the management team of the National Center on Elder Abuse 
     and was active in the American Society on Aging and the 
     Gerontological Society of America, which awarded her its 
     Donald P. Kent award in 1998.
       In the last year of her life, as her health declined, 
     colleagues begged her to slow down-if not to pass the torch, 
     then at least to let others help clear her path. But there 
     was always one more conference, one more article, or one more 
     new project to plan. It was her colleagues who ended up being 
     swayed during these exchanges; they emerged with renewed 
     energy and commitment. Her passion was contagious.
       She brought people together, mentored, guided, encouraged, 
     and motivated. She led with grace, dignity, wisdom, humility, 
     and boundless energy. Even in death, she will continue to 
     lead through the contributions she has left behind, the 
     relationships she has forged, and the example she has set.

     

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