[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 154 (Friday, September 26, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2032]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING THE LIFE OF SIMON LAKRITZ

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 25, 2008

  Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to 
the life of Simon Lakritz. Mr. Lakritz was devoted to his family and to 
his hometown of Hanford where he was an educator, city councilman, and 
mayor. He passed away on September 17th, 2008.
  Simon Lakritz was born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1930. He moved with 
his mother, brother and sisters to Arizona in the 1940s. He attended 
Tucson High School from 1945 to 1949 and the University of Arizona from 
1949 to 1953.
  Upon graduation from college, Mr. Lakritz entered the U.S. Army, 
stationed in California at Fort Ord. He served during the Korean war at 
the European Army central command, in Heidelberg, Germany. Before 
leaving Germany, Lakritz married Mary ``Mimi'' Elizabeth Lyon at Fort 
Ord, and both traveled to Europe to begin married life overseas.
  After returning to the states, Simon obtained his master's degree in 
Latin American history and pedagogy from the University of Arizona.
  Soon after receiving his degree, Simon and his family moved to 
California and began his first job at Hanford Joint Union High School 
as a history teacher. He proved himself to be a popular educator.
  Simon went on to a career of 37 years teaching and serving as 
coordinator of Federal programs for disabled and economically 
disadvantaged students at Hanford High School until his retirement in 
1994.
  While he led a successful career in education, Simon had a passion 
for public service and believed strongly in representative democracy.
  During his 25 years on the city council, he served five times as 
mayor. In 2002, he was elected to the Hanford Joint Union High School 
District board of trustees, and also served as a mentor to teachers at 
Chapman University.
  Simon volunteered his time to community organizations, including the 
NAACP, the Kings County Commission on Aging, of which he was a co-
founder, and the Hanford Taoist Temple Preservation Society.
  Simon Lakritz was preceded in death by his wife Mary ``Mimi'' 
Elizabeth in 1991. Surviving are his four children, Andrew Morris 
Lakritz, Jeffrey Lakritz, Bradley William Lakritz and Thomas Spencer 
Lakritz, and his four grandchildren: Ania, 11, of Arlington, Va.; 
Emily, 18, Noah, 12, and Mia, 10, of San Rafael.




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