[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 198 (Tuesday, December 22, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S13782]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO BARBARA A. SOULIOTIS

  Mr. KIRK. Mr. President, I know all my colleagues share an 
indebtedness to the many staff members who work so (skillfully and) 
tirelessly behind the scenes each day. They assist us in serving the 
public and responding to the needs of our constituents. Today, I am 
honored to pay particular tribute to the contributions of one truly 
outstanding member of the Senate staff. She will retire at the end of 
this session of Congress after 47 years of impressive service to the 
citizens of Massachusetts.
  Barbara Souliotis worked on Senator Edward M. Kennedy's first 
campaign for the Senate in 1962. She was the first employee in Senator 
Kennedy s office in November of that year And from the moment he joined 
this body until the end of his life, Barbara served as a member of his 
staff and for the last 23 years, she was the State director of his 
Boston office.
  ``Barbs'' recalls that on her first day at work here in Washington, 
she spilled a glass of Coca Cola on Senator Kennedy. When she started 
to apologize, he smiled his iconic smile and said ``Barbara, you and I 
are going to get along just fine.''
  And they did. She served him brilliantly throughout his entire Senate 
career--the only member to run the full race as a ``staffer'', though 
many of us have reported back in whenever Barbara sent out the call.
  Senator Kennedy considered ``Barbs'' to be his most indispensable 
assistant. If anyone ever had a question relating to the Massachusetts 
people whom he loved, he would inevitably ask; ``Have you checked with 
Barbs?'' I know how proud Ted would be that this tribute honoring 
Barbara's extraordinary example of public service to our Senate, our 
Commonwealth and our country is taking place this day.
  I first met Barbara Souliotis when I joined Senator Kennedy's staff 
in 1969-40 years ago. I could see right away that behind Barbara's 
modest demeanor was a remarkable woman who would never let Senator 
Kennedy down. Why?
  Because she had learned that his values and his commitment to making 
a positive difference in peoples lives was the very reason she wanted 
to work for him in the first place. As I have thought about public 
service through the years, it has become clear that the best of our 
Nation was built on the labors of loyalty and love of unsung public 
heroines like Barbara Souliotis.
  It was once said that ``Loyalty means nothing unless it has at its 
heart--the absolute principle of self sacrifice''. If that is the 
standard of loyalty, I can tell you this,--there is no more loyal 
United States Senate staffer than Senator Kennedy's own ``Barbara 
Souliotis''.
  She embodies the admirable quality of loyalty no matter the 
circumstances. Barbs planned to retire years ago, but her loyalty to 
Senator Kennedy and her leadership position on his staff kept her with 
him to the end. Just as she had throughout his storied career, she 
worked unfailingly for Senator Kennedy through the difficult months of 
his illness and during his final days.
  After Senator Kennedy passed away in August, Barbara continued her 
remarkable life's work of service as the director of my Boston office. 
This woman I had known as a colleague came, once again, to the aid of a 
friend. As one who was appointed to, among other things, continue 
constituent services for the people of Massachusetts, I knew I could 
keep that pledge--because Barbara Souliotis volunteered to stay on to 
lead the Kennedy team during these last few months.
  Barb's loyalty, integrity and commitment are legendary. She is the 
true noble public servant, the tireless and compassionate friend, the 
unassuming aid to all around her.
  If public service is Barb's vocation, sports is her avocation. There 
is no more avid fan of the Boston Red Sox, the Boston Bruins, the 
Boston Celtics, and the New England Patriots than Barbara Souliotis.
  And she's also an outstanding golfer who plays without a handicap and 
who has at least one hole-in-one on her score card. In Massachusetts, 
sports and politics are our passion. And Barbs has scored literally 
thousands of holes-in-one for the constituents of Massachusetts. A 
lifelong resident of Haverhill, she has travelled tens of thousands of 
miles through the years serving the people of our Commonwealth.
  In acknowledging Barbara's years of All-Star service to Senator 
Kennedy for 47 years and to me for these few important and historic 
months, I add my own personal heartfelt thanks to her, especially for 
the blessings of her friendship, support, and counsel over the many 
decades, and I wish her a well-deserved happy and healthy retirement in 
the many years to come. Thank you, Barbs. We love you. Hit 'em long and 
hit 'em straight!

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