[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 5 (Wednesday, January 10, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E65]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO PAULA STONITSCH

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 10, 2007

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor beloved teacher 
Paula Stonitsch of Petaluma, California, who passed away December 13 at 
the age of 90. Mrs. Stonitsch was that special kind of teacher who, 
like many wonderful educators across the country, is remembered for a 
lifetime by the children she inspired.
  For over 40 years, Paula taught at Petaluma High School where my four 
children--and many others--learned to care about their government and 
to understand how it works. Her own children were also in her classes, 
where she reminded them that they must earn their grades like everyone 
else. She also taught night classes at Santa Rosa Junior College, SRJC.
  Born in San Francisco in 1916 to German-speaking immigrants who had 
high ambitions for their children, Paula Girbony went on to attend UC 
Berkeley, majoring in German and history, graduated from Valparaiso 
University in Indiana, and earned a teaching credential at UC Berkeley.
  In 1941 she married Gottfried Stonitsch of Petaluma, whom she had met 
through friends of relatives there. She moved to Petaluma to join him 
and began teaching German and American history at the high school in 
1951 and German classes at SRJC in the 1960s. In 1962, Paula Stonitsch 
won a Fulbright Exchange Teaching Scholarship which enabled her to 
teach for a year in Germany where she conducted her classes in German. 
She retired from Petaluma High School in 1990 but continued teaching at 
the JC until shortly before her death.
  As the founder of a group called the Nut Ladies at St. John Lutheran 
Church in Petaluma, Paula was also known for her energies in supporting 
the church. Her group picked and sold walnuts, with the proceeds 
benefiting St. John.
  Paula is survived by daughters Elizabeth Ravenscroft, Adrienna 
Rodgers, and Erika Stonitsch and sister Gisela Krueger.
  Madam Speaker, teachers like Paula Stonitsch offer a rare gift to our 
young people, a gift that truly gives back to our country as these 
students grow up to become our citizens and our leaders. The 
generations of Petaluma children who were fortunate enough to study 
with her will never forget the lessons she taught and the pride they 
learned.

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