[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 135 (Friday, December 8, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2158]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO FORTUNE ``TINO'' BOSCO

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM DAVIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 7, 2006

  Mr. DAVIS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Fortune 
``Tino'' Bosco, of Tampa, Florida, who lost his battle with cancer last 
month. Fortune described himself to many as ``just a poor Italian 
immigrant,'' but to all who knew him, he was so much more--a grand 
story teller, a civil rights advocate, a political powerhouse, a bocce 
ball enthusiast and a dedicated family man.
  Born in Lanciano, Italy, Fortune earned a degree in law and economics 
from the University of Rome, and went on to serve in the Italian 
National Police and at Interpol, the Paris based international police 
agency. Also a professional soccer player, in the 1950s, Fortune played 
on the Italian Olympic soccer team.
  In 1954, Fortune arrived in the United States on the Andrea Doria. 
Later, when the famed ship collided with another cruise liner, Fortune 
worked as a translator for the rescued Italian passengers. It was 
during this time that Fortune met the love of his life, Marjorie 
Nettleton, who was also helping the accident victims. Marjorie and 
Fortune would go on to settle in Florida and start a family, which 
became the focal point of Fortune's life.
  Fortune earned his second law degree at University of Miami. 
Afterwards, he was hired as a civil rights attorney by the U.S. 
Department of Justice and transferred to Tampa to serve in the Office 
of Economic Opportunity. His passion for protecting civil rights 
brought him to Selma, Alabama in 1965 to participate in the historic 
civil rights march.
  Always proud of his Italian heritage, Fortune was also known for his 
weekly ``La Pagina Italiana'' column in Tampa's trilingual La Gaceta 
newspaper. Even as Fortune struggled with retinitis pigmentosa, which 
slowly robbed him of his eyesight, Fortune continued to write his 
column, play bocce ball and chess games and actively participate in 
local and state political campaigns.
  Fortune was active in a host of local community groups including the 
Sons of Italy, Mona Lisa Lodge and the Italian Club of Tampa. He served 
on the Mayor's Alliance for People with Disabilities and was an 
honorary member of the Board of Directors at the Lion's Club.
  In so many ways, Fortune represented the heart and soul of Tampa. On 
behalf of the entire Tampa Bay community, I would like to extend my 
deepest sympathies to Fortune's family.

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