[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 91 (Wednesday, June 4, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1135-E1136]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IN HONOR OF MARIANNE VITTARDI

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 4, 2008

  Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of 
Marianne Vittardi, as her friends and family gather in celebration of 
her 80th birthday.
  Mrs. Vittardi was born in 1928 in Cleveland Ohio to Regina and Jack 
Zuccola. Marianne's mother and second dad, Ed Krumheuer, raised 
Marianne, her brother Larry and their beloved sister Carol Jean in 
Parma on Maplecrest Ave.
  Marianne is the loving wife of over 50 years to her husband Jerry, 
devoted mother to her children, Richard, Renee, Gerianne, Marty, Mickey 
and Ed. Marianne is the grandmother of thirteen and great-grandmother 
of eleven. She is awaiting the arrival of her twelfth great-grandchild 
this year and prays for many more in the future. Great Grandma Vittardi 
and her family hold a very special place in their hearts for baby Jack 
and baby Blake.
  Parma would remain the city in which Jerry and Marianne would raise 
their own family. It is also where they became interested in local 
government. In 1961, Marianne stood by her husband's side during his 
successful bid for city council. It was the beginning of a lifetime of 
civic duty for the Vittardi family. It was also where Marianne's 
reputation for being hard working, knowledgeable and dependable was 
gained for organizing political campaigns. Marianne was called upon to 
be the chairperson of campaigns by Governor Richard Celeste, Senator 
Howard Metzenbaum, Congressman Ron Mottl, Attorney General Lee Fisher, 
Parma Mayor Michael Ries and for her son Councilman Martin Vittardi.

[[Page E1136]]

  Marianne served as the President of the Parma Women's Democratic 
Club, Parma Women's Democratic City Leader and Treasurer of the Parma 
Democratic Party. Throughout her life, Marianne volunteered on 
committees for club picnics, dances and steak roasts. Marianne was 
recognized for her service and volunteerism when she was named 1989's 
Parma Democratic of the Year.
  Jerry and Marianne took their family on vacations to Florida, Ruggles 
Beach, and Washington, DC. Their summers were spent with family and 
friends at Country Club Camp Grounds. In the 1980s, Jerry and Marianne 
went on a three-week trip of a lifetime to Italy. Keeping their Italian 
heritage alive through each new generation, the Vittardis celebrate 
their Italian heritage on Christmas Eve with a traditional Italian 
dinner of Marianne's homemade spaghetti sauce and seven courses of 
fish. Her mother's recipe for German potato salad, a family favorite, 
has been passed down to each new generation. Jerry and Marianne became 
Snowbirds traveling to Cape Coral and Fort Myers where they spent 
fifteen Cleveland winters in the Florida sun. They attended their 
children and grandchildren's school and sporting events. Marianne was 
always one of the most spirited cheerleaders in the crowd, whose voice 
could be heard on Byers Field or on the court! Their shared commitment 
to family, faith, and community is reflected throughout the Parma 
community and also within their parish, St. Bridget Church.
  Madam Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor of my dear 
friend, Marianne Vittardi. I wish Mrs. Vittardi a joyous birthday and 
many blessings of peace, health and happiness today and always.

                          ____________________