[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 115 (Wednesday, September 22, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S9521]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO DONALD COMLISH

 Mr. TALENT. Mr. President, I rise today to mourn the passing 
of Donald Comlish, who was the vice president for international affairs 
of the Air Transport Association. Through his years of service, Mr. 
Comlish helped provide great service to our airline industry as well as 
the traveling public, and he will be truly missed.
  Mr. Comlish worked for the ATA for 22 years as the chief 
representative of the airline industry in the negotiation of the 
international agreements between the United States and foreign 
countries that provide the legal and operational basis for 
international airline flights.
  He participated in the negotiation of aviation agreements with 
France, Germany, Japan, Thailand and many other countries during his 
career, helping to literally open up the world to American travelers. 
Mr. Comlish helped to negotiate the 1977 Bermuda II agreement, which 
eased restrictions on air travel between the United States and Britain. 
He also helped to complete a partnership between the United States and 
China that provided for post-World War II resumption of direct air 
service between the two countries.
  Donald Comlish was born in Stratford, CT and enlisted in the Navy 
after high school. He attended the Navy School of Music in Washington 
and played with the Navy Band. He graduated from St. Bonaventure 
University in 1961, and received a law degree from Catholic University 
in 1965. He began his career as a law clerk for the firm of Spencer & 
Whalen and the Civil Aeronautics Board, and then began working for the 
ATA. Donald was a well-respected and accomplished attorney who was 
admitted and qualified as an attorney and counselor to the Supreme 
Court. After leaving the ATA in the mid-1990s, he remained a consultant 
to the airline industry until his retirement in 1999.
  Shortly before he retired, he decided to once again pursue his love 
of music and began playing saxophone and clarinet for the Montgomery 
Village Community Band and the Virginia Grand Military Band. He was 
also a member of the International Aviation Club.
  Mr. Comlish's survivors include his wife of 42 years, Carol Comlish; 
6 children: Jeannie, Michael, Gregory, Matthew, Paul, and Chrissy; and 
1 grandson. His efforts improved the lives of every American who 
travels, and he certainly left the world better than he found 
it.

                          ____________________