[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 28, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E211-E212]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO JOHN ``JACK'' EMERSON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MARTIN T. MEEHAN

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 28, 2006

  Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay special tribute to John 
``Jack'' Emerson who passed away on December 29, 2005 at the age of 64. 
Jack was a loving father and husband, an outstanding public servant, 
and friend and mentor to many, including myself.
  I ask unanimous consent to enter into the Congressional Record the 
eulogy given by Jack's good friend Barry Balan on January 3, 2006.

       Jack Emerson, a devoted husband, caring father, man of 
     compassion, civic leader, mentor and colleague. A man I am 
     proud to call my friend.
       There are not enough words to describe this man, who has 
     made such an impact on this community and all who met him. 
     Knowing Jack for 26 years, I will give you a glimpse into the 
     man who has made a difference in so many people's lives.
       The Lowell Sun called Jack a man of vision, but I believe 
     he was also a visionary. Webster defines a visionary as not 
     founded on fact, imaginary, and impractical, having 
     idealistic goals or aims incapable of realization.
       He had the uncanny ability to take something that was 
     idealistic and incapable of realization and make it real. 
     Thus was born the Chelmsford Sewer Project. People told him 
     that it was impractical, it would cost too much, and it would 
     bring too much growth to this suburban community of 
     Chelmsford. It would change life as people knew it. Jack, in 
     his own inevitable way took up the challenge and for four 
     long years he went on cable TV to every church, synagogue, 
     civic group, or gathering of two or more people, to sell the 
     town on the sewer project. In 1984, town meeting rewarded his 
     efforts and appropriated the first funds for the project by a 
     unanimous vote then again in 1985, 1987, 1989 and 1996.
       Jack, although small in stature, pursued this project with 
     the vigor of a small army.
       He had the boundless energy, as seen by the different 
     positions he held throughout his political and non-political 
     activities. Jack was elected to the Sewer Commission in 1980.
       He became a selectman in 1982; his mom was so proud of him 
     at that accomplishment that she would introduce Jack to 
     everyone she met, this is my son ``the selectman.'' He is and 
     will continue to be Chairman of the Chelmsford Sewer 
     Commission. He holds the distinction of being the longest 
     continuous serving chairman of any board in the town of 
     Chelmsford.
       At one time in the mid eighties, Jack was the Chairman of 
     the Board of Selectmen, Chairman of the Sewer Commission, and 
     Assistant Director of Public Health in the same year. You 
     could say he had the whole town wrapped up in his hands. Jack 
     was on the Board of Registrars, Dog Pound Committee, Town 
     Meeting Representative, Lowell Regional Transit Authority 
     Board, and member of the Chelmsford Elks, Advisory Board of 
     Camp Paul and Good Friends Incorporated, and Catholic 
     Charities. How Jack did all this is beyond comprehension. The 
     only solution I can find is it must have been his mom's 
     chicken soup that kept him going. (She made the best.)
       I first met John Patrick Emerson, Jr. (known affectionately 
     by his friends as ``the Flea'') in Jack's Diner. I started 
     going there when I first moved to town, (yes, I am a blow-in, 
     but so was Jack--he moved here from Lowell in the fifties, so 
     I feel I am in good company.) I would go in for my morning 
     coffee and happen to sit next to this man who was holding 
     court, discussing politics and this sewer project. It was 
     Jack Emerson. He introduced himself, we talked, and the rest 
     was history. We enjoyed each other's company and over the 
     years we became best of friends.
       I learned more about Jack's passion to establish a sewer 
     program for the town of Chelmsford and how he felt the need 
     to help people less fortunate than himself. Jack convinced me 
     to run for the sewer commission in 1984 and we have been 
     together since that first campaign.
       Speaking of politics, some people may be surprised to know 
     Jack Emerson was a Democrat (as was his Dad before him and 
     presently his brothers Packy and Danny and his sister Ellen, 
     although Jack would say Ellen's politics were even further to 
     the left than his.) Jack was as passionate about his politics 
     as he was about helping people. Jack would rather cast a 
     ballot for a yellow dog before he would vote for anyone who 
     was not a Democrat.
       Although he was a Democrat, he did transcend party lines 
     when it came to helping the people of Chelmsford.
       He was a master at reading people and situations. Before 
     going to town meetings for a crucial vote on the project, 
     Jack would say ``all we have to do is be up front with the 
     voters, if we tell them the facts and are honest and tell the 
     why, we should have no problem, they will give you the vote 
     we need and you know they did. That philosophy has held fast 
     throughout Jack's career and is still held by his friends on 
     the commission.
       In 1996, Jack walked up to the town meeting floor 
     microphone and said he needed forty-nine million dollars to 
     proceed with the project and that if need be, he was prepared 
     to give a lengthy presentations to show them how it would be 
     used. In three minutes the motion was seconded and passed 
     unanimously. That was Jack; prepared, truthful, trustworthy.
       In his earlier years, Jack was a mason or as he would say, 
     a bricky. (Jack belonged to local 31 in Lowell) He was a 
     strong union man (as was his dad). Whenever Jack ran for 
     political office he would make sure that the union bugs would 
     appear on all his literature and anyone he backed for 
     political office must have the union bug on their literature 
     as well or got his wrath.
       Jack was a good listener, he read a lot, he always updated 
     himself on current events, he was also, to say the least, an 
     impatient driver.
       When I say Jack was a good listener I mean he would 
     evaluate the situation, ask the right questions and decide on 
     the approach on how to handle the problem. As someone said to 
     me the other say, if you called Jack Emerson with a problem, 
     you knew he would take care of it.
       Jack would read the papers and political journals and the 
     project contracts. He would go over the contracts with a fine 
     tooth comb and inevitably would find errors. Whether it was 
     misspelled words, wrong sentence structure, or pricing 
     errors. Jack was involved in all aspects of the project.
       Wherever we went Jack had to drive, it was like his 
     security blanket. If you have ever driven with him, you know 
     it is quite an experience. No need to call it road rage, just 
     ``Jack'' rage. Thankfully, we all survived.
       I have given you some of the background of Jack Emerson the 
     man, some of which you already know, some you might have read 
     in the newspapers. Now I want to tell you about something you 
     may not know about Jack Emerson the Person.
       I had the privilege and honor of being his friend for 26 
     years; we talked or saw each other almost everyday. So I can 
     talk from experience.
       You know anyone that loved animals had to be a good person. 
     Jack loved his dogs. Through the years he had 6 dogs, Cocoa, 
     Cory, Courtney, Toto, Chelsea and Commish. He loved them, but 
     his all time favorite was Cocoa. They were so close that when 
     Jack developed Pancreatitis, so did Cocoa. Cocoa is the first 
     dog in the country, or maybe even the world to have a pump 
     station named after him. The Cocoa Emerson Pump Station 
     located next to the town dog pound on Old North Road.
       In 1959, Jack graduated Chelmsford High School where he had 
     many friends, though none as close as Sam Parks, Paul 
     Lehayes, and Bobby Hughes. They remain close friends to this 
     day.
       Jack's charity knew no bounds, whether it was giving to the 
     Secret Santa Fund, or being his own Santa by adopting a 
     family at Christmas, or Thanksgiving. His charity did not 
     stop all year long; he was involved with Good Friends, Inc., 
     Camp Paul and Catholic charities. He was most affected when 
     children were involved. Jack was the most caring and giving 
     person I have ever met.
       He was a fun loving person with sharp with and a keen sense 
     of humor. He loved music from the fifties and sixties; it was 
     one of his passions. On one occasion he had the radio on in 
     the wagon playing ``Tuti Fruti Alaroody''. I asked him how he 
     liked the type of music the kids of today enjoy. He said hard 
     rock, rap, and heavy metal just don't make any sense, so I 
     said Tuti Fruti Alaroody does, we both had a laugh over that.
       Jack had many talents, one of them being dancing. I think 
     if he had a second vocation, he would have been a dance 
     instructor. He loved dancing. Once he got on the dance floor 
     and started his feet moving, he would dance all night.
       Jack was an avid golfer as are his two brothers. He was a 
     member of Mt. Pleasant Golf Club for over 30 years. He and 
     his brothers would often play in tournaments. When

[[Page E212]]

     Jack, George and Danny were playing golf together, you might 
     think World War III had broken out. Its amazing to me they 
     all survived. On the golf course they were fierce 
     competitors, but off they had each other's love and 
     admiration. One year at Mt. Pleasant, Jack and Briana entered 
     the father-daughter golf tournament and came in first. Jack 
     thought he had another natural golfer in the Emerson family.
       Briana breaking with Emerson tradition decided to take up 
     dance instead of golf and Jack supported her in that 
     endeavor.
       He was devoted to his family, his mom Betty and his dad 
     John Sr., he loved his brothers; Charlie, Packy and Danny 
     (Dennis) and his sister Ellen. He loved all his nieces, 
     nephews and cousins. If they needed a helping hand, Jack was 
     there and they were there for Jack.
       I mentioned how he loved children, well Briana, Joe Maher 
     and I had the great honor of being with your father in the 
     hospital when you were born, all you had to do was look at 
     his face and you could see his excitement and energy. When 
     the nurse came in and said ``Mr. Emerson, you're a daddy'' 
     Jack jumped out of his chair and ran down the hall to see his 
     beautiful baby daughter. Briana, you are the light of his 
     life, he loved you so much. He would talk about your dance 
     recitals and especially the last one he saw you perform. He 
     was really not up to par that night, but he knew he wanted to 
     see you dance again.
       You have grown up to be a beautiful young lady with the 
     compassion and love that was part of your father. You now 
     carry the banner for dad. And as you grow up and have 
     children of your own, I know the legacy he has left will be 
     carried forward.
       One evening Peggy's brother, Connie Stone, brought his 
     friend home, by the name of John Emerson. Connie introduced 
     his sister to John and it started a relationship that lasted 
     40 years. Peggy, what can I say, your devotion to Jack was 
     unquestionable; you have been Jack's backbone. At times it 
     was very difficult for you, through all his ups and downs 
     with his health, but I know Jack loved you and adored you; 
     you were his wife, his friend and his nurse. I often told 
     Jack that he married a saint. He would retort, ``Barry, what 
     are you talking about.'' I would tell him ``who else would 
     put up with you but a saint.'' He would say ``you know, 
     you're right.'' Peggy, you have a beautiful daughter who you 
     have nurtured into a wonderful young woman and I know you 
     will look forward to the day that you tell you grandchildren 
     all about their grandfather the selectman.
       You cannot put down in words what Jack Emerson has meant to 
     this community, his family, his friends and the people he has 
     helped along the way. Jack Emerson leaves a legacy that few 
     people can claim. He started a project that few people 
     thought would succeed, and because of his tenacity, it has 
     succeeded, And along the way his success was recognized at 
     the local and national levels.
       He was awarded the collection systems by the New England 
     Environmental Association in 1994. In 1995 the national 
     organization, Water Environmental Association presented him 
     with the national award in New Orleans. He was voted man of 
     the year for his accomplishments by the Chelmsford Chapter of 
     the Elks. In 2000 he was voted into the Chelmsford Hall of 
     Fame. On October thirtieth of this year, at an emotional 
     ceremony, Jack had just been released from the hospital the 
     day before; he was recognized by his fellow Democrats and 
     received the Greater Lowell Area Distinguished Democrat 
     award. His legacy lives on in his wife, daughter, friends and 
     the people of Chelmsford.
       If they gave out awards for Mr. Chelmsford it would be to 
     Jack. If they had a hall of fame for good people, Jack would 
     be your first choice. If they gave out a friend of the year 
     award, Jack's name would be on the plaque. And if they gave 
     out awards for devoted husband and father, Jack would be the 
     first in line.
       Well my friend, you have come to the end of a long hard 
     fought journey. You put up the good fight as always. It's 
     time for us to say so long, but not goodbye. You will be able 
     to rest knowing that what you started will be carried on. We, 
     your community will watch over Peggy and Briana, as I am sure 
     you will be watching over us. Say hello to your mom, dad, 
     brother Charlie, and all your friends who are with you. I 
     know if God needs a waste water system, you'll be the guy to 
     start the project. So Mr. Chairman, you will be deeply missed 
     by all who knew you. I love you. So long old friend.
       Peggy has asked me to read a prayer that Jack liked. It was 
     read at his dear friend Ira Park's mass:

     I'd like the memory of me to be a happy one
     I'd like to leave an afterglow of smiles when life is done
     I'd like to leave an echo Whispering softly down the ways,
     Of happy times and laughing times and bright sunny days
     I'd like the tears of those who Grieve, to dry before the sun
     Of happy memories that I leave When life is done.

                          ____________________