[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 38 (Wednesday, March 4, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E539]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        AMBASSADOR RICHARD SKLAR

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. NANCY PELOSI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 4, 2009

  Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, on January 20, 2009, just hours after 
President Obama took the oath of office, our nation lost a tremendous 
American: Richard Sklar.
  My friend Richard Sklar was a master builder: of family, of ideas, of 
infrastructure, of peace, of the future.
  My husband, Paul, and I first met Richard and his beautiful wife 
Barbara in the 1970s. I remember the day the Sklars moved into the 
neighborhood. My daughters Christine and Nancy met them first, running 
home to exclaim to me, ``A new family has moved in. They have children 
our age. Their mother is beautiful, and their father sings show tunes. 
And did I tell you, they're Democrats?''
  My five children became fast friends with the Sklar children: Karen, 
Eric, Marc, and Pamela. We all quickly came to cherish Richard's 
larger-than-life personality, sense of humor, and love of life and 
family.
  Richard was like the pied piper when it came to children. When one of 
my kids wasn't home, there was a good chance that the SkIars were 
hosting a basketball game, movie, meal, or party. Over 20 years ago, 
the kids saw the Smurf movie and bestowed Richard with the nickname 
``Papa Smurf.'' They--and he--used it ever since.
  With a zest for the organic and the exotic, Richard and Barbara were 
``foodies'' long before the term was officially invented. You could 
count on expanding your palate at the Sklar tables in San Francisco and 
Napa. He was proud of his homegrown grapes and figs, and enjoyed the 
small celebrations--weekends in the country, birthdays, and family 
dinners--as much as the big holidays. Though Jewish and proud of his 
heritage, Richard put up the biggest Christmas tree anyone had ever 
seen.
  Richard was a master builder of ideas. A brilliant engineer, 
businessman, diplomat and mediator, Richard brought his passion, 
talents and determination to every challenge he faced. As pragmatic as 
he could be in business, Richard was at heart a dreamer--always 
pursuing big ideas, big ideals, and big innovations.
  Richard loved people--earning the respect of all, from the people on 
the street to the President of the United States. His confidence in 
their possibilities inspired greatness in return.
  But Richard wasn't afraid to use tough love as well, because he was 
passionate, mission-driven and fearless in all his endeavors. In one 
such tough love work moment, he said ``I didn't come here to be 
uncritically loved; I get that from my grandkids.'' He certainly had 
his priorities in order.
  Richard had an opinion about everything and was never shy about 
expressing his views--whether about family, movies, books, or politics. 
Richard wanted the last word in any conversation--and usually he got 
it.
  Richard and I shared a birthplace--Baltimore, Maryland--and a love 
for progressive values and Democratic politics. Richard and Barbara 
were long involved in local and national politics from McGovern to 
Obama. They participated in every election cycle, building coalitions 
and urging participatory democracy. They opened their home for 
candidates for office at all levels of service. If you showed up at the 
Sklar house during Teddy Kennedy's 1980 campaign, any number of Kennedy 
family and friends might be there for breakfast or dinner.
  And more often than not, you would see that great Sklar and Kennedy 
friend, Anna Eshoo. Richard delighted in Anna's success as a Member of 
Congress over the years.
  Richard and Barbara taught their children to be active in civic life 
and have always taken great pride in their children's public service.
  Throughout the years, Richard's role as master builder of ideas 
manifested itself in his work to preserve our planet for future 
generations. A force of nature himself, he never stopped thinking about 
new ways to save the planet, promote energy independence, and create 
innovative solutions by sheer force of will and intellect.
  San Francisco will always bear the mark of Richard the master builder 
of infrastructure. In his lifetime, Richard oversaw construction of the 
Moscone Convention Center, kick-started Muni, and supervised the 
reconstruction of San Francisco's historic cable car system.
  When you attend a conference at the Moscone Center, commute on an 
electric bus, or catch a cable car ride, you are among millions of 
people benefiting from the city that Richard helped rebuild.
  The Balkans bear the touch of Richard the master builder of peace. In 
the 1990s, President Clinton asked him to help rebuild war-torn Bosnia, 
where he coordinated programs with the European Union, World Bank and 
International Monetary Fund to bring economic reconstruction and 
strategic reform to eight Balkan countries. He was responsible for 
restoring basic electricity and water services, reopening the Sarajevo 
airport and strengthening mine removal efforts. He would return to the 
area a few years later to help with Montenegrin independence for which 
he received the highest non-citizen medal of honor.
  Richard also served with distinction as U.S. Ambassador to the United 
Nations, and will be long remembered for his work to reform management, 
budgetary financing and personnel practices there.
  Richard said that when he was an ambassador in Sarajevo, he made a 
point of writing out personal notes to the White House on the fax cover 
sheets that he knew the Bosnian staffers would surreptitiously read--
and discuss--as they sent his weekly reports back to Washington. He 
wanted the Bosnians to know that President Clinton never thought about 
Bosnia without considering ``what does Richard Sklar think?'' and that 
Richard Sklar never thought about Bosnia without knowing ``this is what 
President Clinton thinks.''
  While Richard bore the title of ambassador, it is Barbara, with her 
grace and grit, who is the true family diplomat, negotiating strong 
personalities and countless adventures in parenting: from Eric's 
pierced ear to Marc's high school parties. Of course, according to 
Richard, Karen and Pamela were perfect.
  As they traveled the world, Barbara provided the sense of home, 
keeping their network of family and friends together even while she 
developed her own networks in civics and philanthropy. Barbara's 
artistry captured on canvas their life from California to New York to 
Italy to the Balkans.
  For their entire relationship, Richard called her, ``Beautiful 
Barbara.'' She was always the most beautiful person that he knew.
  Like all great visionaries, Richard knew he was building a future he 
would not see.
  Even when he became ill, Richard never stopped his work for the next 
generation. He continued his work on the local Public Utilities 
Commission, mentored political figures, and fought for a cure for 
cancer--if not for him, then for others. Richard taught us how to 
fight: never giving up, never losing hope, ever confident that the 
struggle was worth it for every extra minute it gave him with Barbara, 
his four children, and his eight grandchildren.
  He also used the time to come up with new ideas about how to rebuild 
our country. How we will miss those phone calls and detailed voice 
messages--mine always contained strategic advice for the House 
Democrats.
  My last message from Richard came after he heard President Obama's 
inaugural address. He thought it was wonderful, and characteristically 
had some thoughts to share about it. Later that same day, Richard left 
us.
  Knowing Richard's interest in show business, the movie that I think 
best describes his journey is, ``It's a Wonderful Life''. With Richard 
Sklar in it, it was indeed a wonderful life.

                          ____________________