[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 67 (Thursday, May 6, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E775]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      HONORING LAWRENCE AMENDOLA FOR A LIFETIME OF PUBLIC SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 6, 2010

  Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I rise to acknowledge the retirement of a 
great friend to Connecticut workers, a longtime family friend to both 
me and my parents, and a fixture in the life of New Haven, Lawrence 
Amendola.
  A graduate of Wilbur Cross High School in New Haven, Larry has spent 
his entire life helping people and improving our City. After three 
years with Plymouth Electric and two years in the U.S. Army, Corporal 
Amendola became the manager of the New Haven municipal Golf Course in 
1956. This job would mark the start of what would become Larry's 
continuing passion--to make the City of New Haven both a better place 
to work and a better place to play.
  After ten years with Community Progress, Inc., where he and I worked 
together for better housing and urban renewal, Larry returned to work 
for the City in 1973, when Congress passed the Comprehensive Employment 
and Training Act (C.E.T.A.), a successor to the Works Progress 
Administration of the New Deal. As a Supervisor, Director of Education 
& Work Training, and eventually Administrative Director of C.E.T.A. in 
New Haven, Larry helped match low-income and unemployed Connecticut 
citizens with short-term work for public and non-profit organizations.
  Even after moving to the City's Parks Department in 1984, where he 
served as a Recreation Program Supervisor until, his retirement last 
September, Larry continued his commitment to Connecticut's working 
people. As the longtime President of AFSCME's Local 3144, a position he 
held for 24 years, he has been a fierce and forthright advocate on 
behalf of workers and their families. In fact, he was a guiding force 
as we worked together to forge a management union in New Haven. As any 
Member of the 3144 can well tell you, Larry is a great fighter for 
working men and women, and a good man to have in your corner.
  To his credit, Larry takes play as seriously as work. He has been 
active in promoting countless adult and youth sports leagues in 
Connecticut, and has been involved with the Special Olympics, the New 
Haven Boys Club, the YMCA & YWCA, A.S.A. Umpires, the Youth Football 
Association, and dozens of other worthy organizations.
  I thank Larry deeply for his service to the City on all of these 
fronts. Over the course of a long career, he has enriched our lives and 
our community. And I congratulate him on reaching this milestone. 
Congratulations, Larry, you have earned it.

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