[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 10 (Monday, February 2, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S367-S368]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    IN MEMORY OF SEBASTIAN GARAFOLO

   Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I speak in memory of the Honorable 
Sebastian Garafolo, who passed away on Wednesday, January 21, 2004 at 
72 years of age.
  Seb, as he was known, served the people of Middletown, CT for over 31 
years, including four terms as one of its most popular mayors. This was 
no small feat. Seb Garafalo was a Republican who was the mayor of a 
city with three Democrats for every Republican. But his hard work and 
his kind spirit won him supporters and friends on both sides of the 
aisle. Seb Garafalo was a friend and a gentleman first, and a 
politician second.
  From an early age, Seb Garafolo was an individual who wanted to make 
a difference. As soon as he graduated high school in 1951, he enlisted 
in the Connecticut National Guard. During the Korean War, he was called 
up to active duty and was stationed in Germany. He reached the rank of 
SSG before being honorably discharged. For many years to come, Seb 
Garafolo would be intimately involved in veterans' causes in 
Middletown, including the founding of the Middletown Military Museum, 
Inc. just this past year. Until the day he died, Seb Garafolo never 
forgot his military service and those with whom he served.
  After years of participating in community organizations, from the 
Elks Lodge and the American Legion to the St. Sebastian Church and the 
Holy Name Society, Seb Garafolo began his formal public service when he 
was elected to the Middletown Common Council in 1973. In 1983, he was 
elected to his first term as mayor. He would hold that post until 1989, 
and then again from 1991 to 1993. Seb helped renovate Middletown's 
schools, roads, and parks, and took the lead on building a trash-to-
energy plant. He even put his own life on the line when he wore a wire 
for the Middletown Police Department while meeting with individuals 
suspected of organized crime.
  After his final term as mayor, Seb spent 6 years as Middletown's tax 
collector, and then was elected, once again, to the Common Council. In 
2001, he closed out a long and accomplished career by serving as 
assistant district director for my friend and colleague Congressman Rob 
Simmons. 
  Seb's commitment to service was obviously extraordinary. And that 
kind of commitment extended to his private life as well. Seb was 
married to his high school sweetheart, Marie, and they had two sons, 
Michael and Joseph. When Seb was diagnosed with the disease that 
eventually would take his life, he was given six months to live. But he 
was determined to be there with Marie to celebrate their 50th wedding 
anniversary. So for 2\1/2\ years, Seb Garafolo fought cancer with that 
dream in mind. And just a few months before his passing, he and Marie 
did have that golden anniversary celebration.
  On behalf of the United States Senate, I offer my thanks to Seb 
Garafolo for his years of service to the people of Middletown. And I 
offer my most heartfelt sympathies to Marie, Michael, Joseph, Seb's 
sister Josephine, his grandchildren and great grandchild, and to 
everyone who knew and loved him.

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