[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 129 (Friday, September 21, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1597-E1598]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING THE LIFE OF JULIANNE ELIZABETH MARKS ALLEN

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MAURICE D. HINCHEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 20, 2012

  Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a dear 
friend of mine, Julianne Elizabeth Marks Allen, who passed away earlier 
this month. Julie, as she was called, had a heart of gold and was one 
of the most giving and loving people I've ever been fortunate enough to 
know. It was an honor and privilege for me to have her serve on my 
staff for nearly 19 years as a trusted advisor and liaison to the 
people of Sullivan County--the county she loved and called home for 
nearly her entire life.
  Julie committed her life to her family and community. Through her 
volunteer efforts and public service, Julie touched countless lives in 
Roscoe and throughout Sullivan County, a beautiful, rural part of New 
York, where she was known by seemingly everyone. She was particularly 
interested in assisting young people and served as the Town of 
Rockland's Youth Committee Chairman for the Roscoe Central School 
District for several years. She was also a board member on the Sullivan 
County Community College Foundation Scholarship Committee. Julie worked 
diligently with me on a wide range of issues and was critical in 
helping me establish and steer the Sullivan-Wawarsing Rural Economic 
Area Partnership--an innovative regional community development 
initiative, for which Julie served on the Board of Directors for many 
years. Julie diligently advocated for those who sought assistance 
through our office and was widely respected for her tireless efforts to 
help others. Julie was also a distinguished and stalwart pillar of the 
Democratic Party, serving for the past 40 years as a member of the 
Sullivan County Democratic Committee and for the last 25 years as an 
elected member of the New York State Democratic Committee.
  Julie had a profound impact on virtually everyone she met. To her, 
public and community service was a calling. Despite facing health 
challenges for the past 23 years, Julie's passion and determination to 
help others remained steadfast. In fact, Julie was recently honored 
with the Sullivan County Community College ``2012 Women Who Make A 
Difference'' award for her lifetime dedication of volunteerism to the 
county. She constantly put everyone else's needs before her own, and 
her reservoir of compassion and inner strength was an inspiration to me 
and others. Every conversation with Julie involved her asking how the 
other person was doing, how their

[[Page E1598]]

family was doing, and asking for stories and updates to make sure 
everything was alright. She felt like a family member because she cared 
so much about everyone.
  While she had many jobs and significant responsibilities, the roles 
that Julie cherished more than any others were that of loving wife, 
mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt. Julie loved her family with all 
of her heart--and it was one of the biggest hearts I've ever known. She 
spoke frequently and proudly about her family members' latest 
accomplishments. Nothing brought Julie more joy than spending time with 
her husband Don--her one and only true love and high school sweetheart 
to whom she was married for 47 years--and the rest of their family, 
including their children, Laurie and Michael, along with their spouses, 
Perry and Kori; and their grandchildren Elizabeth Julianne, Caden and 
Taylor. Despite all of the many great accomplishments throughout her 
life, there was no greater achievement in Julie's life than building 
this beautiful family.
  Mr. Speaker, I add my voice to those honoring the life of Julianne 
Elizabeth Marks Allen. I offer my heartfelt condolences to her family 
and many friends. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have 
known and worked closely with Julie. The world is an emptier place 
without Julianne Elizabeth Marks Allen, but her legacy and impact on 
the lives of others will live on forever.

                          ____________________