[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 69 (Tuesday, May 15, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E789]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING THE 95TH BIRTHDAY OF MR. GEORGE GAYNES

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. LOIS CAPPS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 15, 2012

  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor Mr. George Gaynes on 
the occasion of his 95th birthday. Mr. Gaynes is a distinguished member 
of the Santa Barbara community. He is a man who has devoted his life to 
the arts, a man who has delighted us all with his wonderful talents 
both on-stage and on-screen.
  George Gaynes was born in 1917 in Helsinki, Finland. In Europe, he 
served in the Dutch and British Navies during World War II. Mr. Gaynes 
served as a translator on battleships since he spoke, and still speaks, 
six languages fluently. Mr. Gaynes, blessed with a wonderful singing 
voice, started his career in opera companies in Switzerland and London, 
and later in the New York City Opera Company singing basso.
  After moving to the United States, Mr. Gaynes became an accomplished 
Broadway actor, best known for his on-stage role in Wonderful Town. He 
also had notable roles in the Cole Porter musical Out of This World and 
in the U.S. on-stage tour of My Fair Lady. Mr. Gaynes has also enjoyed 
a distinguished career on-screen. He is perhaps best known for his role 
in the Police Academy series as Commandant Eric Lassard, as Henry 
Warnimont on the NBC television series Punky Brewster, and as Arthur 
Feldman on The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd. Gaynes is also remembered 
for his role as Frank Smith on the popular soap opera General Hospital, 
and has appeared in movies such as The Way We Were, Tootsie, and The 
Crucible.
  Gaynes met the love of his life, fellow dancer and actress Allyn Ann 
McLerie in 1952 in New York where they were both performing on 
Broadway. The couple has been married for 58 years and has two 
wonderful children, Iya and Matthew. They have one grandchild, Nicole 
Falcone Stryjak and are expecting their first great-grandchild, Portia, 
in June 2012.
  George and Allyn Ann moved to Santa Barbara in 1989 and the couple 
immediately became involved in the issues important to our community 
and could always be counted upon to support those causes they believed 
in deeply. In fact, George has continuously contributed various 
``Letters to the Editor'' on both local and national issues in several 
local newspapers. The couple were also founding members of the State 
Street Ballet Company in Santa Barbara.
  George Gaynes is a man who has devoted his life to the arts and his 
community. Today I am pleased to recognize him as we celebrate his life 
as a distinguished actor and entertainer, a man dedicated to making the 
Central Coast and this Nation a richer, more vibrant place.

                          ____________________