[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 141 (Thursday, October 18, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10815-S10816]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              EMILY COURIC

  Mr. ALLEN. Madam President, I rise this afternoon on a very sad note. 
We lost a State senator from Virginia, Emily Couric.
  For those who knew Emily Couric, and for those who worked with Emily 
Couric and followed her life and her battles, we all know we have lost 
a fine person. We have lost an articulate, passionate, and 
inspirational leader.
  Emily Couric passed away today, October 18. She had been a State 
senator in the 25th District of Virginia since after her election in 
1995. That is an area around Charlottesville, Albemarle County, Greene 
County, Madison County, Orange County, and Nelson County--generally the 
Piedmont area of Virginia.
  She passed away of pancreatic cancer today in her home in 
Charlottesville.
  She served in the State senate while I served as the Governor of the 
Commonwealth of Virginia.
  She was recognized by all on both sides of the aisle as a leader--
especially in her areas of greatest concern, which were health care and 
education.
  Before serving in the State senate, she served on the school board in 
the city of Charlottesville, and indeed before getting elected to the 
State senate was chairman of the school board.
  She had many accomplishments, such as establishing advanced 
mathematics and technology diploma seals for those high school 
graduates. Picture that--encouraging students to do even more than what 
is just enough to get by. But if they wanted to do even more, they 
could add an advanced mathematics and technology aspect to their 
education.
  She was also a leader in supporting research and rehabilitation for 
victims of spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries.
  She was a leader in the Democrat Party in Virginia. Had she not 
contracted pancreatic cancer, she would right now certainly be running 
for Lieutenant Governor on the Democrat ticket. She explored that race. 
But she was diagnosed with cancer back in July of last year--2000. She 
was certainly regarded as a frontrunner and would not have had any 
opposition whatsoever in her party. I would certainly guess that she 
would probably have won very easily. But she had to withdraw from the 
race because she had to undergo treatment for the pancreatic cancer.
  Nevertheless, she didn't want to get out of what she cared about, 
which was serving the people. Indeed, she served as the general chair 
of the Democrat Party of Virginia, and undertook that responsibility in 
December of 2000.
  She served on many committees in the State senate, such as the 
Education and Health Committee, the Agriculture, Conservation and 
Natural Resources Committee, and the Rehabilitation and Social Services 
Committee.
  She served in a variety of areas, but she did not just serve 
Virginia, she served the region. She served not only in the 
legislature, but on the Southern Regional Education Board and the 
Southern Legislative Conference Education Committee, as well as other 
policy committees.
  As I said, prior to her election, she did serve on the 
Charlottesville School Board from 1985 to 1991, including one term as 
chairman. She served on a lot of community boards and organizations. 
She was a member of the Charlottesville Boys & Girls Club, the 
Charlottesville Area School Business Alliance, the Jefferson Area Board 
for Aging, the Virginia National Bank, the Virginia Festival of the 
Book, the Heritage Repertory Theater, Camp Holiday Trails, and various 
other activities in the community. Until her last breath, you knew her 
passion was for all these ideas, but especially those that would 
benefit youngsters with their health, their education, and their future 
opportunities.
  She was born in Atlanta, GA. She moved to Virginia in 1951. She was a 
graduate of Yorktown High School in Arlington, VA, right across the 
river from us.
  She received her bachelor of arts from Smith College and graduated 
with honors, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, and Sigma Xi from Smith 
College.
  Expressing for my colleague and myself, and I think all Senators and 
anybody who knew Emily Couric, our prayers and thoughts are with her 
husband, Dr. George Beller of Charlottesville, VA, her son Ray Wadlow--
he is a doctor--and her daughter-in-law Jessica of Philadelphia, PA; 
and her son Jeff Wadlow of Los Angeles, CA.
  She is also survived by her parents Elinor and John Couric of 
Arlington, VA; her siblings, Clara Couric Batchelor, John Couric, Jr., 
and, of course, one we know and see every morning, Katie Couric; her 
step children, Michael Beller, Amy Beller, and Leslie Beller; and also 
seven nieces and nephews; and two step-grandchildren.
  We will all miss Emily Couric. Regardless of our political parties, 
Emily Couric was an inspiration. Her life really embodied her true 
dedication to her fellow human beings.
  Once she was diagnosed with this terrible cancer, she kept fighting. 
She did not give up. She is an inspiration and her spirit lives on. All 
of us have been blessed to have known her; and, indeed, future 
generations will have healthier, better lives because Emily Couric 
cared enough to devote a great deal of her lifetime to public service 
and the betterment of others.
  Mr. WARNER. Will the Senator yield for a moment?
  Mr. ALLEN. I am pleased to yield.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The senior Senator from Virginia.
  Mr. WARNER. Madam President, I associate myself with my colleague's 
remarks. I say to Senator Allen, indeed, you knew her very well. I had 
come to know her in later years.
  The Presiding Officer might be interested in this little story. I had 
a chance to be with her about 6 or 8 months ago, it seems to me, when 
she won an award in Northern Virginia and I was sort of the toastmaster 
of that evening. We

[[Page S10816]]

had a very friendly conversation--as we often do.
  I talked to her about my father, who had likewise died from cancer. 
He was a medical doctor who devoted his life to others. We engaged 
briefly in a conversation.
  I said: It took great courage for you not to seek the Lieutenant 
Governor's post.
  She acknowledged that, and then, with a twinkle in her eye--she was a 
very attractive woman, by the way--she said: Yes. I thought about the 
Lieutenant Governor post because that was going to be a way stop to 
come and have a campaign against you, Senator Warner.

  And she could have waged a campaign against this old Senator that 
would give him a wakeup call, for sure.
  Our State has lost one of its shining stars, but that is God's will, 
and we must accept it. I share with the Senator our prayers for her 
family and her friends.
  Mr. ALLEN. Thank you, Madam President.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Connecticut.
  Mr. DODD. Madam President, I add my voice to that of the two Senators 
from Virginia. I did not know Emily Couric, but having listened to the 
distinguished junior Senator from Virginia speak about her, and the 
senior Senator, not only did Virginia lose someone of great value but 
the country did as well. I am sure her family and friends appreciate 
immensely the words spoken in this Chamber this afternoon. I am sure 
all of us would like to associate ourselves with them. We express our 
sympathies to them.

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