[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 181 (Thursday, December 19, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1901]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING JOE RUGGIERO

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 19, 2013

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, Joe Ruggiero, the Chief of the Pelham Manor 
Fire Department, is a lifelong resident of Pelham whose professional 
commitment to Pelham as a decorated Firefighter and Chief equals his 
charitable contributions to the countless number of children and their 
families he has helped.
  Joe has dedicated decades using hockey to have a positive impact on 
community kids. After creating Learn to Play clinics in the Westchester 
area, he volunteered to coach in Pelham Youth Hockey's in house and 
travel programs. Joe continues to make significant contributions to 
Pelham and the tristate area with his volunteer coaching and 
administrative league duties with the New York Raptors, a unique 
program that focuses on providing mentally and physically challenged 
hockey players with the opportunities to play hockey with games and 
events that had never been offered to them before.
  Because of his extraordinary contributions, he was recently presented 
at Madison Square Garden with the prestigious 2013 Emile Francis Award 
for ``tireless efforts, sacrifices, dedication and service to youth 
hockey.'' His dedicated commitment for the past 29 years does not stop 
on the ice as he has been a dedicated member of various charities and 
altruistic causes and programs such as Ice Hockey in Harlem, Pelham 
Civic Association's Scholarship committee and as a volunteer with the 
local Recreation Department.
  He and his wife Marcia reside in Pelham, with their three children, 
Jillian, Christopher, and Alexander, who all were educated in the 
Pelham School system. I congratulate Joe on his being honored by the 
Pelham Civic Association for his many years and many contributions to 
the betterment of life in his community.

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