[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 24 (Thursday, February 14, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E149]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING ROBERT ``BOB'' ABRAMSON OS SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 14, 2013

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today along with my 
colleague Congressman Jared Huffman to recognize and honor the life and 
tremendous social contributions of my late friend, Mr. Robert ``Bob'' 
Abramson of Sonoma County, California.
  Mr. Abramson was an exemplary and upstanding member of his community 
and a longtime resident of the Northern California region. After his 
extraordinary, storied career as a B-29 bomber pilot during WWII, 
flying as many as 30 missions over the Pacific, he would be 
decommissioned from the military in 1945.
  He would go on to graduate from University of California, Berkeley 
with a Masters in Philosophy and Social Welfare. He then worked as a 
parole officer in Oakland before taking a job at the University of 
Southern California through which he was stationed in Pakistan for a 
program funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development. This 
led to larger diplomatic posts with the United Nations and the World 
Bank.
  Mr. Abramson cared deeply for his community and the people in it. He 
was an open book and loved talking to new people, always looking to 
learn new things and always going into every conversation with an open 
mind. He was especially active with the World War II Pilots 
Association, the Prostate Cancer Support Group and the Democratic Clubs 
of Petaluma and Santa Rosa. He was liked by all who knew him in the 
community.
  Mr. Abramson never lost his love for international public service. 
Despite retirement and an extremely active role in his local community, 
he accepted special consulting contracts in Maldives and Sri Lanka. He 
consistently represented the American people with grace and civility.
  His family however, always came first. Mr. Abramson is survived by 
his wife Barbara, his son Bruce, his daughter Julie Morrison, his 
brother Albert, his sister Carol, and his four grandchildren.
  Mr. Speaker, Robert Abramson served his country with distinction both 
as a member of the armed services and as a civilian. He was an active, 
vital member of his community and it is therefore appropriate that we 
celebrate and honor his life and committed service and extend our 
deepest condolences to his friends, family and community.

                          ____________________