[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 170 (Friday, November 21, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2366]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 TRIBUTE TO MR. JOHN DONOVAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CHICAGO COALITION FOR 
                              THE HOMELESS

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                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 20, 2003

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, the poet Robert Frost is quoted 
as writing, ``Some people see things that are and ask why, I dream of 
things that have never been and ask, why not.'' Such was the life, such 
was the philosophy and such was the work of John Donovan, known to his 
friends as Juancho.
  John was a former Catholic priest who found his niche in organizing, 
working with and working for people in our world known as being poor. 
He worked in Panama, in the Rogers Park and Uptown communities of 
Chicago before becoming executive director of the coalition to end 
homelessness. He also worked as a priest, administrator and teacher at 
Chicago's Visitation High School. He was educated with a bachelor and 
masters degrees from Saint Mary of the Lake University in Mundelein.
  John was the recipient of many awards and honors and was featured in 
Studs ``Terkel's Hope Dies Last.'' In an interview with Studs, John 
said: ``Some people who are better off have the luxury of losing hope. 
But poor people never lose hope. They can't afford to. That's the only 
thing they can hold on to, and that's where hope springs eternal.'' 
Some people say, ``How can you continue to work with the homeless and 
the poor?'' That's where I get my energy because they never lose 
hope.'' ``I'm not practicing as a priest, but my ministry, remember is 
organizing. My job is organizing hope. There are people in the 
community who still have hope. That's the last thing they lose. I'm 
organizing hope for change.''
  John Donovan, a man of hope, a force for change. May he rest in 
peace. I extend condolence to John's wife, their children, and other 
members of John's family.

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