[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 36 (Tuesday, March 4, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E293]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING WINIFRED ANN WATERS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 4, 2008

  Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, a community is an aggregate of it 
residents, but its quality of life is determined by the dedication of 
those who devote themselves to the welfare of their community. Winifred 
Ann Waters, known to all of us as Winnie, is a born and bred Bronx girl 
who has devoted herself to her community and the people in it.
  She was born to Peter and Elizabeth McGee and grew up on Cypress 
Avenue and 138th Street. Her father died when she was a youthful 
teenager and she grew up helping her mother care for her siblings, 
Jimmy, Louis, and Veronica.
  Winne was 16 when she first met Jimmy Waters, who was to become her 
husband. They have now been happily married for 40-plus years, and have 
4 children, Jimmy, Vincent, Peter and Mary, who gave them 6 
grandchildren with a seventh on the way.
  After working for several years in the private sector Winnie left to 
have her first child. In 1985 she began working at Community Board 12 
as a community associate with one of her responsibilities taking the 
complaints of unhappy citizens.
  Taking lemons and making lemonade, she established many lasting and 
close relationships over the years. She is one of a rare breed who 
works unselfishly without need for credit or praise. In time she 
started to adopt the community as a second family and devoting herself 
to making the community a better place to live, work, and raise a 
family.
  Now, no matter where Winnie walks in the Community Board 12 
neighborhood, she is recognized by all. She will be greatly missed in 
her retirement but her goal of making the community a family 
environment is one that we will continue to follow from her fine 
example.
  I sincerely thank her for all that she has done for the people of her 
community. She is an inspiration to all.

                          ____________________