[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 16 (Tuesday, February 15, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E236]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        IN MEMORY OF MUFF SINGER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. HOWARD L. BERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 15, 2005

  Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the memory of Muff 
Singer, my former administrative assistant and dear friend. After a 
long and bitter fight with ovarian cancer Muff died on January 16, 
2005.
  Muff was born in Chicago, February 14, 1942, and early in life she 
became involved with the struggle for progressive social change through 
the political process. While at the University of Texas in the early 
1960s she participated in civil rights picket lines, protesting the 
racial segregation of the University dormitories and Austin movie 
theaters. Muff led the way for the racial integration of one of the 
University's honor societies. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1964 and 
then attended New York University for a year of graduate work in 
history. She joined the Peace Corps in 1965 and taught language for two 
years at the Iwahig Penal Colony on the Island of Palawan, Philippines. 
She returned to California to work in the presidential campaign of 
Senator Robert F. Kennedy in 1968 during which time she met her future 
husband Rick Tuttle.
  I was introduced to Muff through Rick Tuttle, my good friend from 
UCLA. Muff became my campaign coordinator for my first race for the 
California State Assembly, performing Herculean tasks 18 hours a day, 
seven days a week, for more than seven months. In an unbelievably 
chaotic, extremely competitive and often nasty political campaign, she 
conducted herself with strength, determination, grace and aplomb.
  For ten years, she was my Administrative Assistant, running my 
district office while I served in the State Assembly. I could have done 
no better. She led, inspired and motivated a remarkable staff and dealt 
with a plethora of constituent demands--always with dedication, good 
judgement and tenacity. With Muff at the helm, I was able to 
concentrate on my legislative and political goals in Sacramento, 
confident in the knowledge that she was taking care of the home front, 
representing me with dignity, loyalty, competence and integrity. Many 
of my constituents lives were better because of her efforts.
  A study in contrasts, Muff was slight of build and soft of voice but 
had a ferocity and passion for the righteous way that could bowl over 
those that stood in her way. Her earnest and serious demeanor belied an 
incredibly droll wit and joyful bemusement for life's whimsical turns. 
She was immune to the common political affliction of taking herself too 
seriously. She saw and participated in the defeat and compromises of 
political life on a regular basis, yet it never diminished her ardor 
for justice or her commitment for the less fortunate. She was thrust 
into the flare of public life, but remained a very private person. In a 
preening and boastful profession, she always maintained the modesty, 
humility and empathy that attracted so many of us to her in the first 
place.
  Muff left the Assembly in 1981 to become a full time mother and begin 
a new career--author of children's books. She had already published her 
first book, the ``Mystery Reader's Quiz Book'', co-authored with Robert 
A. Wager and Aneta Corsault. Muff wrote or co-wrote more than 35 books 
for toddlers and preschoolers. In addition to picture books, she co-
wrote with Nancy Lamb a book for older children, ``The World's Greatest 
Toe Show,'' which received great reviews. She often said her favorite 
book was one written with her daughter Sarah called ``Look Around with 
Little Fish.''
  Muff is survived by her husband, former Los Angeles City Controller 
Rick Tuttle, her daughter Sarah, her parents Bernard and Goldryn 
Singer, sister Caren and a niece and nephew.
  Mr. Speaker, I asked my colleagues to join me to honoring the legacy 
of Muff Singer who lived an incredible, fulfilling and inspirational 
life.

                          ____________________