[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 76 (Tuesday, May 20, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E781-E782]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN REMEMBRANCE OF JOHN VILLAFRANCO

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. PETE P. GALLEGO

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 20, 2014

  Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of John 
Villafranco, of San Antonio, Texas.
  John graduated in 2007 from Ronald Reagan High School in the city's 
Northside. He would have been 25 on May 31, 2014. John was a drummer 
with a band called Northern Nights and they played at several venues in 
San Antonio. He met his wife, Lydia

[[Page E782]]

Marlow, of Watertown, New York, four years ago at one of the band's 
shows. Shortly after, they began a relationship and John moved to New 
York.
  John drowned on April 21, 2014, while fishing with his wife, Lydia, 
in New York State. The two lived on the Black River in Watertown. John 
loved to take a canoe out to go fishing. On that day, the water levels 
of the river were high, and the water was cold. The couple dropped an 
anchor to fish; and shortly after the boat capsized. John and Lydia 
then swam towards a group of soldiers from nearby Fort Drum.
  John was swimming well, but went back to save his wife's life when he 
noticed Lydia was having trouble swimming and keeping up. John kept his 
wife above water and then, with all the strength he had, he threw Lydia 
towards the soldiers. She was transported to a nearby hospital where 
she was hospitalized for hypothermia. Lydia survived. Days after the 
tragic event, local police and firefighters continued to search for 
John to no avail. Since then, the search has been called off and John's 
body was recovered. He did not have life insurance and was about to 
start working at a car wash in New York.
  John is survived by his wife, Lydia; parents, Gilbert and Blanche 
Villafranco; sisters and their spouses, Natalia Villafranco and Andrew 
Fetzner, and Monica Villafranco and Rene Trevino; nephews, Joshua and 
Nicholas; grandmother, Aurora Garza; his pet fur babies, Otto, Leo and 
Skynard; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
  It is with great sadness that I tell this story on the floor of the 
U.S. House of Representatives today. We lost a fellow Texan and San 
Antonian in a very tragic way. May his memories, joy and stories live 
in our lives forever. I pray that God may comfort his family, friends 
and loved ones during these very tough times. I also pray for John and 
that he may be resting in peace.

                          ____________________