[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 162 (Wednesday, October 24, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2226]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN RECOGNITION OF THE 50TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY OF CONRAD AND FRANCES C. 
                              GASKIN, PHD

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. DONNA M. CHRISTENSEN

                           of virgin islands

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 24, 2007

  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, I rise to introduce you and my 
colleagues to a very special couple who happen to be my cousins.
  Conrad and Frances are first generation African Caribbean Americans 
who were born in New York State. The parents and grandparents of Conrad 
Hail from Guyana, South America, continental United States and Jamaica, 
West Indies. Frances is rooted in five generations of the Christian and 
Farrelly clans on St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands and Guyana 
and Nigeria, by enslavement, and also West Meath, Ireland, 
respectively. The two met while attending St. Augustine's Elementary 
School in the Bronx, New York.
  After elementary school Conrad and Frances went on to Bishop Dubois 
High School for Boys and Blessed Sacrament High School for Girls. Upon 
graduation he enlisted in the United States Air Force and was honorably 
discharged four years later. He followed in his parent's footsteps. His 
father, Lionel Gaskin was a Merchant Seaman and prolific mathematician 
and Lillian his mother, a health care companion and a storytelling 
humorist.
  Frances went on to City College of the City University of New York 
(CUNY), where her father, Clement Christian had graduated several years 
before, and Fordham Hospital for Registered Professional Nursing, 
initiated by her mother, Therese, who was a Licensed Practical Nurse 
and an omniscient resource person.
  Frances is a second generation graduate from the CUNY system. They 
were married by Monsignor Cornelius Drew on September 14, 1957 at St. 
Augustine Roman Catholic Church in the Bronx, New York. Three children 
were born from this union: Conrad II (1995), Trace and Troy.
  Being Catholics, the children received the sacraments at St. 
Augustine and Most Holy Trinity in Brooklyn, New York. The family 
continued its affiliation with St. Augustine until immigrating to 
Brooklyn, New York where Our Lady of Charity became their new Church 
home under the pastorship of Reverend Doctor James E. Goode, OFM. 
During the marriage Conrad and Frances reared their children, along 
with the ``village''; for it takes a Village to raise even one child. 
Their children learned the Montessori Method of Education at the United 
Nations Church Center, New York and continued their basic education at 
Most Holy Trinity Elementary School.
  During the marriage, Conrad and Frances attained undergraduate and 
graduate degrees. He is an alumnus of Brooklyn College (CUNY) and 
Antioch University and she earned degrees from Hunter College (CUNY), 
Adelphi University and Fordham University. Their children were educated 
at Fordham Prep, New York Brooklyn Technical High School and Cascadilla 
Prep School in Ithaca, New York and Stuyvesant High School, New York. 
Conrad II, Trace and Troy went on to graduate from Bates College in 
Lewiston, Maine; Fordham University and Long Island University, New 
York, and Xavier University in New Orleans, Louisiana, respectively. A 
Fordham family tradition was upheld: Trace completed her undergraduate 
degree, Conrad graduated from Fordham Prep and Troy completed 
coursework at the University. Trace is a second generation graduate of 
Fordham. Some overlapping occurred in the family's quest for education: 
Four family members were in college at one time. The children went on 
to become responsible citizens in banking, education and brokering real 
estate.
  Of the marriages, Conrad II; Trace and Troy united in matrimony with 
Adrianne; Mario, and Angela who brought forth five grandchildren: 
Conrad III and Kayla; Soleil Mustafa, and Briana and Troy Ashly II. 
Briana attends Hunter College High School and is the third generation 
in the CUNY system.
  For a career change, Conrad and Frances emigrated from Brooklyn to 
Albany, New York and helped found an additional Church home in the 
Faith Community of the Black Apostolate, which later expanded to 
include St. Joan of Arc and Sacred Heart Churches of the Roman Catholic 
Diocese of Albany, New York. Father Kofi Ntsiful-Amissah serves as 
Pastor.
  The family demonstrated entrepreneurial strengths by starting a skin 
and hair care business called Frances Christian Gaskin, Inc. Four 
patents were awarded in the United States for dissolving melanin and 
placing it into the MELANIN PLUS products.
  The family enjoys interstate and international travel, exposing their 
children and grandchildren to strong family values, and other places 
and cultures in the United States, the Caribbean, and their own 
children, to Europe.
  Conrad is retired from The New York State Teachers' Retirement 
System; Frances is a former College Professor in Nursing and is 
pursuing her studies in Medicine.
  Conrad and Frances, recognizing that ``giving back'' is the highest 
form of service, continue to advise the youth in academics and sports. 
Conrad coached basketball and swimming. Frances has also worked with 
the American Red Cross and is a Staff Officer with the United States 
Coast Guard Auxiliary. Both are Ministers of the Eucharist.
  They love participating in Church activities and sports, particularly 
swimming and SCUBA diving. They are also communicants and members of 
Our Lady Star of the Sea Church and the Polar Bears on Martha's 
Vineyard, and also members of the Holy Cross Church and the Lil' Bay 
Posse morning swim on St. Croix.
  The theme song on their 50th Wedding Anniversary was ``I Believe.'' 
They are indeed people of faith!
  We thank God for this special couple and their family and we thank 
Him for the 50 wonderful years He has given them.
  I ask the entire Congress of the United States to join me in wishing 
them many more loving years together and His continued blessings.

                          ____________________