[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 75 (Wednesday, June 2, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E995]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               CAROL AND JERRY BERMAN'S 60TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CAROLYN McCARTHY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 2, 2004

  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate my 
friends Carol and Jerry Berman as they celebrate their sixtieth wedding 
anniversary. Carol Berman met Jerry Berman at the University of 
Michigan, in 1941. Their surname was the same. In 1943 they became 
engaged. Jerry enlisted in the Air Force, and Carol graduated from 
college. They were married in 1944 and after a brief honeymoon, Carol 
traveled with Jerry to thirteen different Air Force installations where 
he was an airman, and she worked on various newspapers and magazines.
  After the war they returned to Ann Arbor where Jerry received his 
degree in mechanical engineering, thanks to the GI Bill, and Carol 
worked as an Editor. After a while they moved back to New York and set 
up housekeeping in Lynbrook, Long Island. Jerry worked as an engineer, 
and Carol worked for a public relations firm. Their daughter Elizabeth 
was born followed by their son, Charles. They then moved to their 
present home in Lawrence, Long Island
  Carol devoted much of her time to the school, serving as President of 
two PTA's and then elected to the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Board of 
Education. While Carol was busy with this, Jerry, who now was in the 
family's insurance business, served in many capacities at his beloved 
Beth Sholom Synagogue, serving as Chairman of the Board for two terms.
  Carol and Jerry also became politically active in the Democratic 
Party. Carol ran campaigns for many candidates and then the local 
offices for Assemblyman Eli Wager and Congressman Herbert Tenzer. She 
became a Vice Chair of the Nassau County Democratic Party. Carol was 
elected to the State Senate in 1978, serving for three terms, and is 
still the only Democrat elected to that body from a district solely in 
Nassau County. Her public service continued when she was appointed by 
Governor Cuomo to the State Division of Housing, to the Lobby 
Commission, and to the State Board of Elections, where she is still 
Commissioner.
  Because of her political expertise, the community drafted her to head 
their fight against the SST Concorde landing at Kennedy Airport. That 
fight made history and just recently ended with the complete demise of 
the Concorde.
  Terry was Democratic Leader of Lawrence-Cedarhurst, and President of 
the Five Towns Democratic Club, and was a close political associate of 
both Congressman Herbert Tenzer and Jim Scheuer. During the Vietnam 
War, he was appointed to the Draft Board, where he served for fifteen 
years. In that capacity, he accompanied Rabbi Edward Sandrow on a visit 
to General William Hershey, which resulted in a history making decision 
that enabled servicemen of other than the Quaker faith to claim 
Conscientious Objector status.
  In addition, Jerry and Carol have donated much time to civic 
endeavors: among them the building of St. John's Hospital. They have 
been honored by the Hospital, UJA-Federation, Israel Bonds, 
Congregation Beth Sholom, the Five Towns Democratic Club, Cancer Care, 
Nassau County Democratic Party, the Village of Lawrence and Carol by 
NOW and The Nassau Coalition Against Domestic Violence, as well as many 
other civic associations.
  The greatest joy and love in their lives are their children: 
Elizabeth married to David; and Charles, married to Lisa; and their 
beloved grandchildren, Sarah, Jeremy, Rebecca and Ben.
  Jerry and Carol emulate the ideals of citizenship in our country, 
through their concern for others, their service to the community and 
active participation in our government. I wish to congratulate and 
thank my good friends, Carol and Jerry, for all that they have done for 
my district, their community, the State, our Country, and me.

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