[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 176 (Wednesday, November 19, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2276]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 RECOGNITION OF MR. ROBERT S. HEKEMIAN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. STEVEN R. ROTHMAN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 19, 2008

  Mr. ROTHMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Mr. Robert Hekemian, 
a resident of Saddle River, New Jersey, for his lifetime of dedication 
to the improvement of the community, and being awarded the Bergen 
Community College Foundation's 2008 Medallion Award of Merit for 
Corporate Responsibility and Philanthropy.
  Mr. Hekemian currently serves as Chairman of the Board and Chief 
Executive Officer of both Hekemian & Co., Inc., a real estate 
investment, management and brokerage company, and First Real Estate 
Investment Trust of New Jersey. He has been active in the real estate 
business for more than 6 decades, and is esteemed by his peers.
  Mr. Hekemian, who is of Armenian descent, is a devoted member of the 
Armenian Presbyterian Church in Paramus, New Jersey and serves on the 
Board of the Armenian Missionary Association of America. During the 
past 50 years, he has contributed substantially to numerous civic and 
community organizations, as well as domestic and international 
charitable endeavors, both personally and through the Robert and Mary 
Jane Hekemian Foundation. Benefactors of the Foundation include The New 
York Philharmonic, Hackensack University Medical Center, Bergen 
Community College, Boy Scouts of America and The Young Men's Christian 
Association (YMCA). Finally, Mr. Hekemian is a devoted husband, father, 
and grandfather. He has been married to his loving wife Mary Jane for 
51 years, and they have been blessed with 4 wonderful children and 7 
grandchildren.
  Today, I would like to recognize Robert Hekemian's leadership by 
example for more than half a century. I am proud that such an honorable 
man resides in my Congressional District. My constituents' lives are 
better for all his many and generous contributions to the community. I 
offer my sincere and hearty congratulations on the occasion of this 
well-deserved and distinguished award.

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