[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 31, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E95]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             MR. JOHN DELEO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. LOU BARLETTA

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 31, 2012

  Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor and acknowledge John 
``Jack'' DeLeo on his being named ``UNICAN of the Year'' by the 
Scranton Chapter of UNICO National.
   Jack DeLeo was born in Scranton on December 8, 1947, to Angelo and 
Irene DeLeo. Jack graduated from West Scranton High School and entered 
the United States Army. He served his country in Vietnam from 1967 to 
1968 with the 1st Battalion, 8th Artillery, 25th Infantry Division, 
rising to the rank of sergeant. Jack's business career began in sales 
in the pressure-sensitive labeling industry. After several years, Jack 
was elevated to general manager of Scranton Label, Inc., until 1992, 
and is now the company's vice president.
   An active member of St. Lucy's Church, West Scranton, Jack is a 
member of the Holy Name Society and has served as its vice president 
since 1992. Jack is also active in many community activities and events 
in the region. He serves the City of Scranton as a member of the Board 
of Directors on the Parks and Recreation Authority, where he has worked 
diligently to clean and enhance the beauty and the awareness of Nay Aug 
Park. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the American Red 
Cross, Scranton Chapter, where he chairs the Blood Services Committee 
and several blood drives throughout the year. Jack serves on the 
Advisory Board of the Salvation Army in Scranton and the Tripps Park 
Girls Pony League, and he was an assistant coach from 2000 to 2004. 
Jack served as president of the Columbus Day Association of Lackawanna 
County in 2002, and is now on its Board of Directors. He was the force 
in the creation of the Paul Bordi Memorial Scholarship Fund, which 
serves high school seniors throughout Lackawanna County.
   He is an active member of the Scranton Chapter of UNICO National, 
the largest chapter in the country. He has been extremely active in 
chapter causes and chaired many fundraising events. He served as 
president in 2007-08 and presently serves as the chairman of the Board 
of Directors. Jack has always had a passion for the care and well-being 
of United States veterans. He helped create the UNICO Veteran's 
Assistance Community (UVAC) Fund. He is now chairman of this fund, 
which accepts donations from individuals and donates to area veterans 
wounded in recent years.
   He and his wife, Patty, have been married for 21 years and are the 
proud parents of two daughters: Brittany, a sophomore at Scranton Prep, 
and Tia, a fifth-grade student at All Saints Academy in Scranton.
   UNICO was founded on October 10, 1922, in Waterbury, Connecticut. A 
group of 15 men, led by Dr. Anthony P. Vastola, came together to create 
an Italian-American service organization to engage in charitable works, 
support higher education, and perform patriotic deeds. The name 
``UNICO'' was selected as best representing the nature and the 
character of this fledging organization. The name is the Italian word 
for ``unique, one of a kind.'' The founders believed that UNICO would 
be the only one of its kind because it placed service to the community 
before and above fraternity. In later years, UNICO became an acronym 
that stands for ``Unity, Neighborliness, Integrity, Charity, and 
Opportunity.''
  Mr. Speaker, Jack DeLeo espouses the values of community that Dr. 
Vastola dreamed of when he helped found UNICO. Mr. DeLeo's steadfast 
dedication to his Italian-American heritage, community, and country is 
what makes organizations like UNICO a pillar in our community. I ask my 
colleagues to join me in recognizing and congratulating John ``Jack'' 
DeLeo for being named ``UNICAN of the Year'' by the Scranton Chapter of 
UNICO National.

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