[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 142 (Tuesday, September 9, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1733]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




EXPRESSING THE CONDOLENCES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON THE DEATH 
 OF THE HONORABLE STEPHANIE TUBBS JONES, A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE STATE 
                                OF OHIO

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. TIM RYAN

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 8, 2008

  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my friend, 
mentor, and a true pioneer. Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones was 
taken from us at far too young an age when she passed away on August 
20th. On August 30th, during a memorial ceremony held at the Cleveland 
Public Hall, I addressed the hundreds of friends and family in 
attendance to pay tribute to Stephanie and I would like to share those 
remarks here as well:
  There was a famous song a few years back called, ``I Hope You 
Dance.'' And it's a song that passes along some advice to all of us, 
and the refrain of the song says, ``If you have the choice to sit it 
out or dance, I hope you dance.'' And we all know that Stephanie didn't 
sit it out; she danced. She danced through this life with a style all 
her own, and she now gets to dance once again with her favorite 
partner, Mervin. Whether literally dancing on the dance floor or 
dancing through life, she possessed the key quality of any great 
dancer--she was fearless. She wasn't real concerned with criticism 
because she got her instructions from the inside. And as Connie Shultz 
pointed out last week in her wonderful column, ``When the rough and 
tumble side of Cleveland politics reared its head and threatened 
Stephanie, she simply said, `I don't have time for fear.' ''
  Gandhi said, ``My life is my message.'' And so it is with Stephanie. 
Her life instructs us that if we live a life without fear, we allow 
God's light to pour through us, like His light poured through 
Stephanie. We saw this light in her bright smile and her catchy laugh; 
her high-fives she always liked to give when she made a witty comment; 
and the nicknames she gave us, as Congressman Meek said, I was the 
``white son.'' We felt this light in her passion for justice and her 
warmth for humanity. Her life teaches us that if we live with courage 
and allow God's light to shine, we can travel farther and higher than 
we ever dreamed; that we can achieve the seemingly unachievable; and 
that we can break glass ceilings and overcome barriers with grace and 
joy. Whether it's Mervin, or Barbara, or her staff, or Members of 
Congress, or Senators, or presidential candidates, Stephanie's death 
gives us what she gave us so many times in life--our marching orders: 
To live a fearless life. To let our light shine. To bring joy and hope. 
To lift people. To dance. The daughter of Cleveland's life mission. And 
the credo she asks us to live by is reflected in the short poem called, 
``I Am One.''

     I am only one,
     But I am one.
     I cannot do everything,
     But I can do something.
     And that which I can do,
     I ought to do.
     And that which I ought to do,
     By the grace of God, I shall do.

  We love you, Stephanie.

                          ____________________