[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 111 (Tuesday, July 30, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1161]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                      HONORING JOHN R. LASSEN, JR.

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                          HON. KYRSTEN SINEMA

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 30, 2013

  Ms. SINEMA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and passing 
of Mr. John R. Lassen, Jr., a lifelong teacher in Tempe, Arizona, and a 
nationally distinguished innovator in secondary education.
  A native fourth generation Arizonan, John served his country in the 
United States Air Force after graduating from high school in Tempe. 
Following his distinguished service to his country, John returned home 
to attend Arizona State University on a basketball scholarship, where 
he earned both a bachelor and a master's degree in mathematics.
  John's heart never left Tempe--his passion was mathematics. He loved 
teaching in his hometown at Marcos De Niza and Mountain Pointe High 
Schools for nearly forty years, eventually serving as Mathematics 
Department Chairman for the Tempe Unified School District.
  Under the administration of President George H. W. Bush, Mr. Lassen 
earned the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Mathematics 
Teaching, for which he was honored at the White House Rose Garden and 
the U.S. State Department. Mr. Lassen also initiated a dual-credit 
collaboration between Tempe public schools and Rio Salado College, 
offered first at Mr. Lassen's own Mountain Pointe High School and later 
throughout the greater Phoenix area. For this, he was given the 
President's Award for dedication and commitment to education in Arizona 
from the President of Rio Salado College.
  It was to the great benefit of Tempe, his community, and the state of 
Arizona that Mr. Lassen served so dutifully and lived so well. I ask 
that my colleagues join me in posthumously recognizing Mr. Lassen and 
extending our condolences to his family.

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