[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 163 (Saturday, December 17, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2576]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO ALFRED LOUIS ROMEO

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BILL PASCRELL, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 16, 2005

  Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to call to your attention the 
life of a wonderful man, who sadly passed over a year ago, Mr. Alfred 
Louis Romeo.
  It is fitting that he be honored, in this, the permanent record of 
the greatest freely elected body on earth, for his lifelong dedication 
to the City of Paterson.
  Born and raised in my hometown of Paterson, New Jersey, Fred 
graduated from Central High School. After his graduation from high 
school in 1958 Fred joined the Paterson Fire Department as a member of 
the Division Line Gang.
  The Division Line Gang was a group of firefighters who were assigned 
to maintain the communications infrastructure for emergency call boxes 
throughout Paterson. Fred was a member of the Division Line Gang until 
1983 , when the ``Gang'' was disbanded, in order to use the more 
effective emergency voice response system. It was at this time that 
Fred was transferred as a firefighter to Engine Company Number 7.
  Fred found time during his busy schedule to volunteer at the Paterson 
YMCA where he had been a member for over 70 years. In addition, to 
sitting on the Board of Directors, he served as the Co-Coordinator for 
the YMCA. Perhaps most importantly, Fred had donated his time on 
Thanksgiving, for the past 34 years, to help feed the underprivileged 
at the annual Thanksgiving Feast.
  Beyond his many philanthropic contributions, Fred was also a Champion 
and Hall of Fame handball player. He had amassed two New Jersey State 
Singles Championship titles, 24 NJ State Doubles Championship titles, a 
Jr. National doubles Championship title, and a National doubles 
Championship title. Fred was not only a Member of the Board of 
Directors for the Old Timers Sports Hall of Fame, Association of 
Paterson; he was an inductee as well.
  In addition to Fred's many academic and professional achievements, 
his personal achievements are many also. He was the devoted husband to 
the late Rose Romeo and father of Rosalind, Francine, and Dominic.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join our colleagues, Fred's family and 
friends, and me in recognizing the outstanding and invaluable 
achievements of a man who will be truly missed, Mr. Alfred Louis Romeo.

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