[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 133 (Thursday, November 18, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2020]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING E. WILLIAM IOVANNE, JR., 2004 RECIPIENT OF THE CHARLES CARROLL 
                                OF CAR-
                              ROLTON AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 17, 2004

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today 
to join family and friends in paying tribute to one of our community's 
most outstanding citizens and my dear friend, E. William Iovanne, Jr. 
In recognition of his invaluable contributions to our community, Bill 
is to be honored with the coveted Charles Carroll of Carrolton Award--
the highest honor given to a Catholic layman by the Fourth Degree, 
Knights of Columbus. Through his generosity and compassion, Bill has 
touched the lives of thousands and I cannot think of a more deserving 
individual for such a prestigious honor.
  Each year, this medal is presented by the John Barry Assembly, 
Knights of Columbus, to an individual who has made an outstanding 
contribution to the welfare of the church, his or her parish, and the 
community at large. Throughout his life, Bill has dedicated both his 
professional and personal time to enriching the lives of others. As a 
member of the New Haven business community he has earned our respect 
and as a member of the Wooster Square community he has gained our 
affection.
  Born in New Haven, Connecticut's Fair Haven neighborhood, Bill 
graduated from Notre Dame High School and pursued a career in the 
funeral business established by his father. The Iovanne Funeral Home 
has been a fixture in Wooster Square since 1928. For more than seventy-
five years, Bill Iovanne and his family have reached out to families in 
need, helping them cope with the pain of loss. With a combination of 
compassion and professionalism, Bill has long been known for making a 
most difficult period, a bit easier.
  Beyond his professional career, Bill is also an active and involved 
member of our community. Well known for his work with a number of local 
service organizations, Bill has always demonstrated a unique 
combination of civic commitment and enthusiastic volunteerism. For 
anyone who has seen his comic routine pantomiming the late bandleader 
Louis Prima, which has been lent to numerous fund-raising efforts, his 
enthusiasm and heart-felt good will is undeniable. The Sacred Heart 
Academy, St. Michael's Church, the Society of St. Maria Maddalena, the 
Saint Andrew Apostle Society, Connecticut Hospice, and the Campania 
Club are just a few of the organizations which have benefitted from 
Bill's good work. It has been through these efforts that he has made 
such a difference in the lives of others.
  There is one family that I know has been touched by Bill's generosity 
and spirit: my family. The Iovannes and DeLauros have a long history. 
For my mother, father, and me, the Iovannes have been trusted friends, 
steadfast supporters, and always a part of our extended family--the 
type of people who are always there with a kind word or a helping hand. 
I cannot thank Bill enough for the special friendship we have shared 
over the years.
  Throughout his life, Bill has embodied the very spirit in which this 
prestigious award is bestowed. For his innumerable contributions to our 
community and in recognition of his outstanding generosity to others, I 
am proud to stand today to join his children: William and his wife 
Angeline; Richard and his wife Susan; and Beth Ann and her husband 
Joseph, grandchildren: Christina and Alec, family, friends, and the New 
Haven community in extending my sincere congratulations to my dear 
friend, E. William Iovanne, Jr. as he is honored with the Charles 
Carroll of Carrolton Award. His is a legacy that will continue to touch 
the lives of others for generations to come.

                          ____________________