[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 61 (Thursday, April 17, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E649]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E649]]
                       IN HONOR OF ELEANOR WASSON

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 17, 2008

  Mr. FARR. Madam Speaker, I rise today, with my colleagues Anna Eshoo 
and Dennis Kucinich to honor the memory of an optimistic, vivacious 
woman whose positive outlook and zeal for life inspired many. Eleanor 
Wasson, a driving force behind WomenRise for Global Peace, passed away 
peacefully on April 6, 2008. She was 100 years old.
  Miss Wasson grew up in Los Angeles, California and was raised by a 
loving, supportive family. In her life she was always conscious of the 
importance of giving back to the community. She devoted her life to 
fighting for political and social causes in the United States and 
abroad. Miss Wasson was an active volunteer, working three decades as a 
coordinator of Volunteer Services for UCLA, and later, creating her own 
organization. Miss Wasson helped introduce volunteerism to the rest of 
the world through the creation of International Volunteer Education, 
which was designed to teach foreign countries to recruit and train 
large numbers of volunteers.
  A feminist ahead of her time, Miss Wasson's activism and longevity 
was fueled by her uplifting outlook on life. Miss Wasson was noted for 
the ability to befriend people from all over the world and from diverse 
walks of life. Her warm heart led her to treat each individual with 
equal respect and friendliness; noting that having plenty of friends 
attributed to her own longevity. Above all, she led her life believing 
in the universal power of love, and that we all had power, providing 
that every action was motivated by love.
  Later in her life, Miss Wasson was drawn to the beauty of 
California's Central Coast. She moved to Santa Cruz in 1989, where she 
continued to cultivate her spirit of volunteerism, contributing much to 
a local environmental organization. EarthSave. There, she continued to 
make friends and spread her contagious optimism with Santa Cruz locals. 
Old age could not stop Miss Wasson as she continued her activist 
lifestyle up until her recent passing. Her memories live on, along with 
her book ``28,000 Martinis and Counting,'' which details her 
centenarian life of ``living, learning, and loving.''
  Eleanor is survived by her daughters Joan Smith and Diane Wright; 
along with numerous beloved family members and friends.
  Madam Speaker, I would like to extend our Nation's deep gratitude for 
Eleanor's service to the United States and her own local community. I 
know I speak for every Member of Congress in offering our condolences 
to Joan, Diane and the entire Wasson family for the loss of their 
beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

                          ____________________