[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 85 (Friday, June 14, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H3639]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        A TRIBUTE TO BEN GETTLER

  (Mr. WENSTRUP asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I had the good fortune of getting to know 
Ben Gettler during years of pickup basketball games with him.
  Ben's philosophy about basketball wasn't too different from his 
philosophy about life: age is no reason to slow down. Ben was still 
running a business and two charitable foundations up to his final days 
with us. He passed away on June 4 at age 87.
  Ben grew up during a tumultuous time in our world's history. The 
experiences of his era imprinted upon him the importance of his 
heritage and shaped his philanthropic pursuits.
  As the president of the Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati, Ben 
organized a program that helped more young men and women per capita to 
travel to Israel than any other city in North America.
  Ben also gave back to his alma mater, the University of Cincinnati, 
by serving as the chairman of the board of trustees. Today, Gettler 
Stadium at the university stands as a tribute to Ben and his wife Dee's 
service to the University, as well as a reminder of his time in college 
as an outstanding track-and-field athlete.
  A grateful city thanks Ben's wife, Dee, and his children for sharing 
this energetic and passionate man with our community. The city of 
Cincinnati is truly a better place because of Ben Gettler. He will be 
missed, but he will never be forgotten.

                          ____________________