[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 111 (Thursday, July 24, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1579]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  COLE A. LEWIS WILL BE MISSED BY MANY

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                          HON. DONALD M. PAYNE

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 23, 2003

  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I am saddened to inform my colleagues of the 
death of Mr. Cole A. Lewis. Mr. Lewis was special to many. He was a man 
of conscience. His principles and ethics were impeccable. He did 
whatever he could. He was the true example of humanity. His life 
experiences shaped the man he became. He was born and raised in 
Baltimore, Maryland where he graduated from the country's second oldest 
high school, City College. After high school he went off to Brown 
University in Providence, Rhode Island. During World War II he enrolled 
in the U.S. Navy's V-12 program at Brown. He was commissioned in 1945 
and served in the post-war occupation of Japan. He returned to Brown in 
1946 where he graduated in 1947 with his original class. Cole Lewis and 
Nat Brush were married after graduation and moved to Newark, New 
Jersey.
  Mr. Lewis was employed by the Prudential Insurance Company of 
America. He held many positions there including pioneer systems analyst 
for the installation of the company's first computer, and ending as 
vice president of community affairs. Mr. Lewis used his position in the 
community affairs department to benefit social and cultural programs in 
Newark and throughout the state. Although he was responsible for 
funding many of these programs he became personally involved. He was 
the founding director of the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, 
chairman of the New Jersey Committee for the Humanities, and an active 
officer and board member of Planned Parenthood, the Integrity House, 
The Catholic Youth Organization, the Education Law Center and many 
other groups.
  Mr. Lewis was employed with Prudential for 37 years. Upon his 
retirement he became comptroller of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, 
serving nine years. His second retirement was brief, when he joined the 
staff of the Education Law Center, a pro bono advocacy group dedicated 
to bettering educational opportunities for underprivileged children in 
the state.
  Mr. Speaker, I am sure my colleagues would have liked to meet Mr. 
Lewis who would have celebrated his 77th birthday this past weekend. I 
am also sure my colleagues would have extended their condolences to Mr. 
Lewis's family--his wife, Nat; and his two daughters, Susan Kenny and 
her husband, Thomas; and Deborah Sexton and three grandchildren; Sarah 
Kenny, Austin Kenny and Laura Sexton.

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