[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 61 (Tuesday, April 17, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E756]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO JOAN COLEMAN AND ANTHONY PIZZA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 17, 2007

  Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, I am proud to recognize two long-time 
advocates in our community, Joan Coleman and Anthony Pizza. Both will 
be honored at the inaugural ``Stand Up for Victims'' event on April 25, 
2007, sponsored by Advocates for Victims and Justice, Inc. in Toledo, 
Ohio. The organization was developed by Mr. Pizza and Mrs. Coleman to 
assist crime victims and provide educational and prevention programs to 
the community. Advocates for Victims and Justice, Inc. also assists 
older adult victims of crime as well as victims of domestic violence 
and sexual assault.
  Joan Coleman was the first Executive Director of the Toledo/Lucas 
County Victim Witness Assistance Program, initiated in 1990 by then 
Lucas County Prosecutor Anthony Pizza. The Prosecutor believed that the 
victims of crime and their families suffered needlessly through 
inadequate attention from the court system itself and deserved special 
attention as they navigated that system. Under Joan Coleman's able 
tutelage, the Victims Witness Assistance Program has grown to a staff 
of seventeen with offices throughout Lucas County.
  A graduate of the University of Toledo with a degree in Education/
Social Work, Joan put her experience as a community activist to work in 
establishing and growing the Victim Witness Assistance Program into a 
premiere service providing outreach for Spanish-speaking victims; 
assistance to victims of juvenile offenders in Juvenile Court; a crisis 
response team for short-term assistance to victims of domestic violence 
throughout the county, a three-part intervention in the local schools 
to educate schoolchildren about the effects of crime on victims, 
offenders, and the community known as the Victims Forum; Kids' Space 
for children of female victims of violent crime who could not appear in 
court without this free child watch service; Suburban Courts' Services 
to provide support and advocacy for victims in the Maumee and Sylvania 
court systems; and Victims Forum Peacemakers, a school-based program 
which teaches children the skills to combat bullying.
  In an effort to fully address the challenge of funding for all of 
these services, Joan sought the establishment of a non-profit 
foundation. Advocates for Victims and Justice, Inc. was incorporated in 
1994 to help retain and expand victims' services to meet the ever-
increasing needs of the community. Private donations remain a vital 
source of funding for the programs which Joan worked so tirelessly and 
passionately to establish.
  Those honoring her describe Joan best as they ``gratefully thank and 
honor the woman whose vision, energy, commitment and passion for 
victims of violent crime and their families has given many thousands of 
people a sense of acceptance and hope.'' More than just an 
administrator, Joan Coleman has accompanied thousands of victims into 
the courtroom remaining by their side. It is not unusual for victims 
and their families to remain in contact with the Victim Witness 
Assistance Program long after their proceedings have been finalized. 
This fact is the most telling tribute to this remarkable woman.
  Anthony G. Pizza, was elected Lucas County Prosecutor in 1976 and 
served continuously until his retirement in 1996. In this twenty-year 
period, Tony ``endeared himself to the citizens of Lucas County as a 
man with both a huge heart and a passionate conviction that crime has 
no place in our community.''

  Born in Toledo in 1921, Tony graduated from St. Charles grade school 
and Libbey High School, where he played varsity football and was class 
salutatorian. He attended Kenyon College and graduated from the 
University of Toledo College of Law in 1950. He and his wife Madlynn, 
married now 63 years, together raised four children and have six 
grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
  Tony actually began his career in the Prosecutor's Office in 1951, 
where he served as an assistant prosecutor. Thus it can be said that 
Tony devoted his entire career as an advocate for justice on behalf of 
the citizens of our community. In all, Tony Pizza served our community 
for 45 years in the office of the Lucas County Prosecutor, an 
impressive tenure during which he often used innovative methods to 
fight crime. During all those years, he never let difficult situations 
or personal tragedy drag him down and his ``sunny disposition, 
leadership, and dedication to our community'' inspired us all.
  Tony Pizza also understood the ability of his office to address non-
criminal needs and causes. As one example, he successfully stopped the 
State of Michigan from building a hazardous waste dump which would 
pollute the waterways of Northwest Ohio by filing suit in the U.S. 
District Court.
  Though retired as Prosecutor for a decade, Tony still practices law. 
His family remains paramount and he has earned the privilege of 
spending warm winters in Florida. The recognition offered him in the 
tribute describes this incredible man among men as ``a most deserving 
attorney and Prosecutor, as well as a uniquely blessed and courageous 
human being. `Lest we forget!' is the testimony inscribed on the Toledo 
Police Memorial. It also perfectly describes Anthony G. Pizza, mentor 
and friend to all of us privileged enough to know him.''
  It is wonderful that the Advocates for Victims and Justice, Inc. has 
chosen to honor these two amazing people while they are able to enjoy 
the recognition and know how much they mean to the people of our 
community. I offer my personal congratulations to both Joan Coleman and 
Tony Pizza as they receive this honor, and my own heartfelt thank you 
to each for courageous and selfless service.

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