[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 129 (Thursday, September 23, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1729-E1730]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING BROTHER JOHN G. DRISCOLL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. NITA M. LOWEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 23, 2010

  Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to Brother 
John G. Driscoll who passed away on September 21, 2010. Brother 
Driscoll served as the sixth president of his undergraduate alma mater, 
Iona College in New Rochelle, NY, from 1971 to 1995, where he also was 
a mathematics professor.
  A New York City native and long-time member of the Congregation of 
Christian Brothers, Brother Driscoll earned a PhD in theoretical 
mathematics from Columbia University. He taught at all educational 
levels, including elementary and secondary schools in Manhattan and the 
West Indies, and colleges and universities in four states. In his 
nearly quarter century as Iona College's top administrator, Brother 
Driscoll left an impressive legacy in many academic and student life 
areas. He was inducted into Iona's Hall of Fame in 1994 for his 
significant contributions in enhancing lona's athletic department, 
including expanding women's athletics, developing athletic scholarships 
in almost all sports and raising the competitive standing of lona's 
teams. Because of his active leadership and involvement in a wide range 
of educational, civic and religious organizations, he also made a 
lasting mark throughout the broader community of New Rochelle, 
Westchester County and New York State.
  After leaving Iona, Brother Driscoll combined his commitment to 
lifelong learning and teaching with his passion for Jewish-Catholic 
studies. In February 1989, Brother Driscoll was appointed director of 
the Bat Kol Institute

[[Page E1730]]

in Jerusalem, Israel. From 1995 until recently, he served as a Scholar 
in Residence at Hebrew University in Israel, and presented lectures on 
biblical studies taught through the Jewish traditions to Christian 
seminary groups and in religious education study centers in the US, 
India, South Africa, Italy, Zambia, Canada, the Philippines and 
Australia, among others. His seriousness of purpose in fostering 
ecumenism was enhanced by his infectious Irish wit and wisdom, earning 
him well-deserved international respect and admiration. Among the many 
tributes were honorary doctorate degrees from the National University 
of Ireland, Galway; Pace University; St. Thomas Aquinas College; and 
the College of New Rochelle. But perhaps one unusual honor--the 
endowment of the Brother John G. Driscoll Professorship in Jewish-
Catholic studies at Iona College--best captures this remarkable man's 
lifelong work. Its mission statement reads: ``The Professorship takes 
Brother Driscoll's hopes as its own: that ancient truths will be 
revered, that hidden truths will be revealed and that new ways will be 
found to touch the human heart.''

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