[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 163 (Saturday, December 17, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2589]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                   TRIBUTE TO MR. NICK GEORGE BRONZAN

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 16, 2005

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Mr. Nick 
George Bronzan of Fresno, California. He is survived by his wife, 
Peggy, two daughters, Mary and Ann, and son Bruce.
  Mr. Bronzan lived a life of honor, compassion and sincere loyalty to 
those he cared for and to the causes for which he fought.
  Born in Stockton, California, Nick spent his childhood in Manteca. 
Upon graduation from high school, he attended California State 
University, Fresno and was a Bulldog academically and competitively as 
the captain of the Fresno State football team. Colleagues recall him as 
being a real leader and remember him being more interested in the 
condition and lives of the players than in winning the game.
  After graduating from Fresno State in 1939, Mr. Bronzan spent five 
years as the Kerman High School coach in various sports and teaching 
mathematics. He worked for 4 years in the Fresno Young Men's Christian 
Association before becoming the executive secretary of the YMCA in 
Southern California. Finally settling in Fresno, Mr. Bronzan took a job 
as the executive director of the Central Valley YMCA in 1968.
  Mr. Bronzan was a longtime advocate for youth, seniors, and foster 
children. He fought for the rights of those who could not fight for 
themselves. Not only did he work for the foster grandparents program 
but also served as its director. Mr. Bronzan volunteered alongside 
others older than 60 to work with children lacking parents and 
families. He was a member of the Fresno Rotary Club and was elected 
chairman of the Fresno-Madera Counties Service Area Task Force. His 
contributions helped develop the Area Agency on Aging for those two 
counties and in 1984 he was reappointed to the California Commission on 
Aging and Long-Term Care.
  Mr. Bronzan served his community in more ways than one. Although his 
passing brings sadness to his family, Nick Bronzan's memory will 
forever live on in the lives of the many people he touched.

                          ____________________