[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 195 (Wednesday, December 19, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2609]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO ANTHONY IURILLI

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSEPH CROWLEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 18, 2007

  Mr. CROWLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the life and 
accomplishments of Anthony Iurilli, who passed away on Sunday, November 
25, 2007 at age 38 after a long battle with multiple sclerosis.
  Mr. Iurilli, known as Tony, exemplified the ideals that many of us 
aspire to: commitment to education, a love of community service, and 
devotion to his family and friends.
  Tony was blessed with extraordinary athletic talent. He was a 1986 
graduate of St. Raymond High School for Boys in the Bronx, where he 
lettered in both baseball and basketball. In his senior year, he was 
named to the All-City Baseball Team by three New York metropolitan 
newspapers--Newsday, the NY Daily News and the NY Post, and he was 
awarded a New York Yankees Scholarship to Pace University. There, he 
was the starting shortstop on the baseball team for four years, 
graduating in 1990 with a solid B average.
  Tony's priorities were faith, family, school, and community. After 
college, he worked as Director of Recreation for HIV/AIDS patients at 
Bronx Lebanon Hospital, and he taught American history, health, and 
physical education at St. Helena's elementary school in the Bronx. He 
then returned to his alma mater, St. Ray's, to teach American history 
and health education, and to foster the athletic abilities of students 
who followed in his path. He coached the school's varsity and junior 
varsity bowling teams, and he served as the head junior varsity 
baseball coach and the assistant varsity baseball coach. As JV 
basketball coach, he led the St. Raymond's Ravens to Catholic High 
School All-City championships in 2003 and 2005.
  While at St. Raymond, Tony was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a 
disease that may have crippled his body, but never his mind or spirit. 
Last summer, he served as best man at his beloved brother Frank's 
wedding in New York before moving to Florida for medical treatment. He 
returned to St. Ray's to be honored by faculty, alumni, and friends at 
a benefit dinner in mid-October.
  Madam Speaker, this is a difficult time for all those who knew and 
loved Tony Iurilli. It is my hope that they will be strengthened by the 
memory of his selflessness, his bright smile, and his wonderful spirit.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Tony's 
all too brief, but wonderful life of commitment and community service.

                          ____________________