[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 30 (Thursday, March 9, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S1958]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING THE LIFE OF MARTIN F. STEIN

 Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, today people across my State of 
Wisconsin are deeply saddened by the loss of a man who dedicated so 
much of his time, and so much of himself, to strengthening our 
communities: Marty Stein.
  I want to share what some other people have said about Marty's 
passing because I think it will give my colleagues a sense of who he 
was and the kind of contributions he made. Tommy Thompson, our former 
Governor, and the recent Secretary of Health and Human Services, said 
simply, ``What will we do without him?''
  The executive director of Hunger Task Force, a Milwaukee-based 
nonprofit, said, ``We always referred to Marty as our angel. He solved 
the problems, opened the doors, fixed things that seemed like they 
would never get fixed. And he did it because he cared.''
  Those words tell you what a force Marty was in the Milwaukee area and 
throughout the State. His dedication to serving his community was 
unparalleled. We will miss not only what he did but the energy he 
brought to his efforts and the example he set for everyone he knew.
  Marty was a skilled businessman who built not one but two thriving 
businesses--first the successful chain of Stein drug stores, and later 
Stein Health Services, which included the Stein Optical stores so well 
known in Wisconsin.
  He took those same skills he used in business, that rare drive and 
dedication, and used them to help community organizations to thrive. An 
outstanding fundraiser, he was determined to engage others in his 
charitable work by asking for their contributions of money or time for 
a good cause.
  It is impossible to talk about Marty's many good works without 
talking about the strength of his faith. Faith fueled his humanitarian 
efforts, as he worked to support local organizations like the Milwaukee 
Jewish Home and Care Center, and as he worked on international issues 
like chairing an effort to bring thousands of Ethiopian Jews to Israel.
  His work will live on and act as a challenge to everyone who knew 
him--to ask what more each of us can do to serve our communities and to 
dedicate ourselves to those causes as he did, with unmatched energy and 
with the utmost integrity.
  Today my thoughts and sympathies are with the Stein family. Marty's 
life and work created a lasting legacy that I am proud to honor today 
and that will be remembered and celebrated for many years to 
come.

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