[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 155 (Saturday, September 27, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2067]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONGRATULATING MR. ARNOLD ROMALDINI FOR BEING SELECTED AS PERSON OF THE 
                                  YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 26, 2008

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed 
colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to Mr. Arnold 
Romaldini, who was chosen by the Italian American Association of 
Luzerne County to be their 2008 ``Person of the Year'' to be honored at 
their annual Columbus Day observance.
  Born in the Hilldale section of Plains Township, Luzerne County, 
Pennsylvania, Mr. Romaldini is a son of the late Sante and Elia Benzi 
Romaldini and a stepson of Ubaldo Mosca. He has two sisters, Thelma 
Stella and Adelia James. He also had two brothers, Carlo and Eugene, 
both of whom are deceased.
  Mr. Romaldini had five children from his first marriage to the late 
Joan Urban, of Duryea, and seven grandchildren. He is currently married 
to Elena DeSimone of Naples, Italy, and has two stepchildren and 
several stepgrandchildren.
  Mr. Romaldini attended public schools in Plains Township and 
graduated from Jenkins Township High School. He attended Wilkes College 
and graduated from the Kingston Vocational School, specializing in 
automotive technology. He worked at several local car dealerships 
before accepting a management position at an out of state business.
  He subsequently went into business for himself with an associate and 
operated a multifaceted repair shop which he later built into three 
automobile franchises as well as other business ventures. At the height 
of his business career, he employed approximately 50 people with a 
payroll in excess of $1 million. He traveled extensively throughout 
North America and Europe attending auto industry seminars.
  Still a member of the National Automobile Dealers Association and the 
American Imported Auto Dealers Association, he was area District Dealer 
representative for numerous automobile manufacturers. He is a long 
standing member of the New York Auto Dealers Association and was a 
founding member and chairman of the Nissan Advertising Association of 
New York. He has been retired since selling his business in 1996.
  He is a proud and active member of the Italian American Association 
of Luzerne County.
  Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Mr. Romaldini. His 
determination to become a leading businessman has enriched the lives of 
all he has employed and all with whom he has been associated over many 
years. Moreover, his contributions to his family and his community has 
been extraordinary and an inspiration to all who know him.

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