[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 87 (Thursday, June 29, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1344-E1345]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            PATRICK DURANTE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HENRY J. HYDE

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 29, 2006

  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, one of the best known and admired political 
figures in suburban Chicago is Patrick Durante of Addison, Illinois. 
One of the most influential local newspapers FRA NOI recently published 
a commentary by Leonard Amara about Pat that is worth reading and 
portions of it follow:

                            Political Update

       For many years, folks from our ethnic community have 
     demonstrated leadership in many Illinois counties. This 
     month, we highlight the career of the highly regarded Patrick 
     Durante. Serving as Chairman of the Addison Township 
     Republican Organization since 1974, this is the longest term 
     to date for a Republican township chairman from DuPage 
     County's Republican Party.
       Born in 1940, Pat's political life started in 1964 at the 
     age of 24, as a member of the Young Republicans. He went on 
     to serve as Addison Township YR president, DuPage County YR 
     vice chairman, and Illinois state YR executive director. 
     During the course of his township chairmanship, he also 
     served as the Illinois 6th District State Central 
     Committeeman for 9 years. This early success demonstrated Pat 
     Durante's interest in improving his community by suggesting 
     its agenda and taking a leadership role.
       Franco Caladipiertro, a candidate for the Illinois House in 
     the 45th District, says of his mentor: ``I'm involved in the 
     political process because of people like Pat Durante. Pat, 
     along with Hank Gianvecchio, Ed Levato and others of 
     Bloomingdale Township, are my role models as to what 
     politicians should stand for, what we should aspire to be.''
       For Pat, as an Italian American in the early 1960s, 
     breaking into the German/Irish/English Republican 
     establishment in DuPage County was no easy task. There were 
     only about a half dozen Italian Americans in the DuPage 
     County Republican Party back then, and arguably our president 
     wasn't well received. Having to endure the ``usual Mafia, 
     Dago barbs that were constantly spoken behind our backs,'' 
     according to Pat, he takes great pride in knowing that he 
     helped open doors, because today there are hundreds of 
     Italian Americans in various positions throughout the 
     DuPage County Republican Party.
       Although Durante has been part of dozens of campaign 
     staffs, and has personally run dozens of campaigns, his 
     fondest memories include being a deputy state chairman for 
     President Ronald Reagan; coordinator for Jim (Stringini) 
     Ryan, Illinois attorney general and candidate for governor; 
     and, most of all, serving as executive assistant to 
     Congressman Henry Hyde.
       In 1963, now-deceased Elmwood Park Village President Elmer 
     Conti urged Durante to get involved in politics. Conti was 
     also instrumental in getting Henry Hyde to run for Congress 
     in 1974. Pat has always held that, if ever there is a non-
     Italian to whom Italian Americans owe a large debt, it is 
     Hyde.
       Pat's family lived on Peoria Street in the Taylor Street 
     neighborhood. Angelo Durante, his paternal grandfather, came 
     to America in 1901 from Laurino, Avellini, Italy, and opened 
     up newspaper stands to make a living for his son James 
     (Patrick's father), and his six daughters. His wife, who 
     was a Gregorio, was also from Laurino.
       His maternal grandfather, John Bertellotti came here from 
     Stazzema, Italy, in 1911, along with his wife and two 
     daughters, Josephine (Patrick's mother) and Corrinne. He 
     opened John's Grocery Store at Flournoy and Loomis and became 
     prominent in the Chicago Italian-American Chamber of 
     Commerce.
       Early in his professional life, Pat scraped up enough money 
     to buy a house in Itasca, where he raised two wonderful 
     children, Lori Ann and Vincent. Pat and his present wife, 
     Kathie Cermak-Durante, current1y reside in Addison. Vince and 
     his lovely wife Katie live in Bartlett and recently presented 
     Pat with life's greatest reward, a grandson, Nicholas.
       Though Pat's parents passed away, they left him with many 
     inspirational traits, the most compelling of which are his 
     pride in being an Italian American and a passion for 
     politics.
       His future plans are to stay with Congressman Hyde until he 
     concludes his term at the end of 2006. He will stay on as 
     Addison Township chairman for a few more terms if his fellow 
     Republicans allow him. and he will be involved in campaigns 
     for governor, congressman and a few others. He will continue 
     to

[[Page E1345]]

     look for young people to train in the art of politics, like 
     his proteges, Franco Coladipietro. and Dennis Reboletti, 
     another candidate for state representative. He will help 
     rebuild the Republican Party, while reminding himself whence 
     he came so he can continue to be thankful for where he is 
     today.

                          ____________________