[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 34 (Thursday, March 21, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E406]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




A TRIBUTE TO MARY ALICE O'CONNOR, 27TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WOMAN OF 
                             THE YEAR--2002

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 20, 2002

  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Women's History Month. 
Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices 
made by our nation's most notable women during the month of March and 
it is my honor to not only recognize women of the past but to also 
recognize women who are making a difference in my community. While a 
month of remembrance is certainly not sufficient, I am honored today to 
pay homage to such women as Eleanor Roosevelt, Sandra Day O'Connor, 
Harriet Tubman, Sally Ride and all the women of my Congressional 
District, whose contributions have made a profound difference in the 
face and fabric of our nation.
  It is a special honor for me to recognize Ms. Mary Alice O'Connor for 
her outstanding contributions to California's 27th Congressional 
District. Mary Alice has generously contributed over 50 years of 
volunteer service to the Southern California community and residents of 
Burbank, California are especially appreciate of her efforts on behalf 
of the community.
  Mary Alice has lived in Burbank for 58 years, moving from Berkeley in 
1944. She and her husband Ken raised two children, John and Joan 
Patricia. Mary Alice is the proud grandmother of three granddaughters, 
Christy, Kendall, and Paige.
  Mary Alice has always been a strong supporter of the community. Ever 
since World War II when Mary Alice and a number of volunteers wrapped 
Christmas presents for American troops, she has dedicated herself to 
improving the lives of others. Since then she has been involved with 
the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, has served on the Board of Directors of 
the Burbank Health Care Foundation, and she currently serves as the 
Fundraising Committee Chairman for the Providence Saint Joseph Medical 
Center Capital Campaign.
  Mary Alice is most noted for her dedication to the community's 
students and especially ensuring that all students are exposed to the 
arts. Over the years, she has served on numerous PTA boards and served 
as an elected official on the Burbank Board of Education. In promoting 
arts education Mary Alice worked hard to reopen the Starlight Bowl for 
a summer music series and she served as the first chairman of The 
Children's Open House at the Bowl, which introduced thousands of 
children each year to the joys of music, dance, poetry and theater at 
the Hollywood Bowl.
  For her efforts, Mary Alice has been has received The National 
Volunteer Center Beautiful Activist Award and in 1998 received the 
Older American Recognition Award. In 1999 the Kiwanis Club of Burbank 
honored her at their Annual Gala.
  I ask all Members of Congress to join me today in honoring an 
outstanding and extraordinary woman of California's 27th Congressional 
District, Ms. Mary Alice O'Connor. The entire community joins me in 
thanking Mary Alice for her continued efforts to make the 27th 
Congressional District a community committed to our children.

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