[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 133 (Wednesday, September 29, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1787-E1788]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING MR. JOHN N. WALSH, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 29, 2010

  Mr. HIGGINS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of John N. 
Walsh, Jr., who passed away recently at the age of 89.
   As a child, Mr. Walsh was a student at Buffalo's School 64 and 
Nichols school. He later graduated from Phillips Academy in Andover, 
Mass., and continued on to Yale where he majored in history and played 
center field for the baseball team.

[[Page E1788]]

   From 1942 to 1945, Mr. Walsh served in the Navy as an ensign on a 
sub chaser in the Pacific. He was at the invasion of Okinawa on April 
1, 1945, the same day his wife gave birth to their first child. Mr. 
Walsh spent an additional seven years in the Navy before retiring as a 
lieutenant commander.
   In addition to his lifelong work at Walsh Duffield Insurance, Mr. 
Walsh served on innumerable corporate and civic boards. He was the 
former director of National Fuel Gas and Tops Markets and was on the 
boards of both Marine Midland Bank and Buffalo Savings Bank. He was 
chairman of Buffalo's Chamber of Commerce committee and a critical 
leader in the work leading to the construction of Ralph Wilson Stadium. 
He also led campaigns to build Nichols School's hockey rink, its former 
science center, as well as other fundraising projects throughout 
western New York.
   Mr. Walsh was president of the James H. Cummings Foundation board 
and held directorships at Hospice Buffalo, Millard Fillmore Hospital, 
and the YMCA. He was chairman of the boards of the Greater Buffalo 
Association of Insurance Agents, Nichols School, United Fund, Child and 
Family Services, NCCJ, AAA, Millard Fillmore Hospital, the Saturn Club, 
and the Bishops Lay Advisory Council.
   A devout Catholic who was a member of Blessed Sacrament Church, Mr. 
Walsh was named to serve on numerous religious committees. He headed 
the Bishop's Lay Committee on behalf of Bishop James McNulty, the 
Schools Review Committee at the request of Bishop Edward Head, and was 
honored with a diocesan nomination and papal appointment as a Knight of 
St. Gregory and Knight Commander. Over his lifetime, Mr. Walsh had been 
recognized as a Buffalo News Outstanding Citizen and the Chamber of 
Commerce's Man of the Year. He held season tickets for both the Buffalo 
Bills and Sabres. With his family, Mr. Walsh received the United Way's 
Volunteer of the Year salute and the Seymour H. Knox Humanitarian 
Award.
   Mr. Walsh was married to his wife, Sarah, on July 3, 1943. They 
recently celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary at their family 
vacation cottage on Georgian Bay, Ontario. In addition to his widow, he 
is survived by three sons, John N. III, Michael, and Theodore B. K. 
``Barney''; a daughter, Sally Demaree ``Demi'' Walsh Ayres; three 
sisters, Eleanor Wertimer, Gerry Clauss, and Sheila Parizeau; and his 
brother, Edward.
   John Walsh, Jr. was a World War II veteran, businessman, father, and 
proud western New Yorker. Madam Speaker, I was honored to know Jack 
Walsh and am honored to call members of his family my friends. I ask 
you to join me and our colleagues in honoring Jack's life and legacy, 
and to wish his family Godspeed in the days and weeks ahead.

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