[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 2 (Thursday, January 6, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E16-E17]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              IN RECOGNITION OF THE LATE DR. MARY MARANGOS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 6, 2011

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the late Dr. Mary 
Marangos, a longtime activist in the Hellenic American community and 
dedicated congressional staff member who passed away last month after a 
valiant struggle with breast cancer. A career educator and public 
servant, Mary Marangos touched the hearts and bettered the lives of 
countless individuals from all walks of life.
  As the Member of Congress representing Astoria, New York, home to the 
largest population of persons of Hellenic descent anywhere in the 
United States, I have depended on Mary Marangos to serve as my eyes and 
ears in that thriving, bustling community for the last seventeen years. 
In addition, Dr. Marangos represented me at an international conference 
held in Cyprus and Greece in 2002, which was fitting, as she had been 
active in the Cyprus Liberation Movement since the island's illegal 
occupation in 1974.
  Mary Marangos was a whirlwind of activity in the Hellenic-American 
community of our Nation's greatest city, leading me to bestow upon her 
the nickname ``the Greek Cannonball.'' She was active in and helped 
organize events for countless organizations such as the Panpaphian 
Association and the Women's Issues Network of the Pancyprian 
Association. She worked closely with local organizations such as the 
Greek-American Homeowners Association, the Cretan Association, and the 
Federation of Hellenic Societies on important activities such as 
citizenship and voter registration drives. She proudly accompanied me 
as we marched each year in the Greek Independence parade on Fifth 
Avenue in Manhattan, and was deeply involved in every aspect of the 
life of the Hellenic-American community, from being a booster of Greek-
American soccer clubs to supporting arts and the humanities to 
increasing awareness and appreciation of the splendors of Greek 
civilization, past and present.
  Mary Marangos' dedication to public service and helping others 
started much earlier than her tenure as a congressional staff member. 
She was an educator, administrator and coordinator at the vocational/
alternative high school level in the New York City public school 
system, serving as a coordinator of the GED program at the Vocational 
Training Center at LaGuardia Airport. She coordinated the AIDS 
Prevention Program on the high school level, training teachers on how 
to teach HIV prevention and holding conferences on the epidemic. Dr. 
Marangos also fostered staff development initiatives for elementary 
school teachers and administrators.
  A graduate of New York City public schools, Mary Marangos earned a 
Bachelor of Science degree from the New York State Education 
Department, a Master's Degree in high school administration and 
supervision from Fordham University, and a doctorate in International-
Intercultural Developmental Education from Florida State University 
under a full fellowship from the U.S. Department of Education.
  Mary Marangos was the loving and devoted daughter of Pantelis 
Marangos from Kalavasos, Cyprus and Despina Kyriacou from Lesvos, 
Greece and Cyprus. She was devoted to them and steadfast in her care of 
both in their later years.
  Dr. Marangos has been an important leader of the Hellenic American 
community. Her assertiveness, intelligence, willingness to help are 
only a few of the characteristics that make her such a special person. 
Time and time again she has gone out of her way to help members of our 
community in need. She truly epitomizes the spirit of the Hellenic 
American woman--strength of character, activism, intelligence and 
compassion.
  Mr. Speaker, I request that my esteemed colleagues join me in paying 
tribute to the late Dr. Mary Marangos for her extraordinary 
contributions to the civic life of our Nation.

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