[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 14, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E65]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        TRIBUTE IN HONOR OF THE LIFE OF CONSTANCE KEND EISENSTAT

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                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 14, 2015

  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an 
extraordinary woman and cherished constituent, Constance Eisenstat, who 
died on December 23, 2014, at the age of 83. Born in New York City to 
Lee and Cecile (Meyer) Kend, Connie spent the first half of her life as 
a New Yorker, and then as a Californian in the Bay Area.
   Connie made the world better with all she did and was. A unique, 
tasteful, funny, smart, intuitive, wise and fully decent woman, she 
consistently made herself available to help those who needed her, 
whether it was wardrobe guidance, new shopping opportunities, or 
exclusives on upcoming sales! Her notable travel and fine dining tips, 
favorite recipes, reviews of movies, art, and theatre were offered free 
of charge, and everyone trusted Connie's judgment and good taste. But 
most importantly, Connie was truly at her best when coaching others 
through their illnesses, their difficult personal times or their life's 
challenges. Connie was a courageous woman. She inspired others through 
her inner strength, fighting off her own illnesses countless times, yet 
never allowing them to get her down.
   Inspired by a program established at Sloan Kettering Hospital in New 
York, Connie and a friend launched the Patient to Patient Program at 
Stanford Hospital. They and their group of carefully trained volunteers 
paid visits to patients who had undergone breast cancer surgeries. 
Introducing themselves as breast cancer survivors, they offered 
information and support services to hospital patients with gentleness 
and sensitivity. When the Community Breast Health Project (CBHP) was 
created in 1993, Connie once again offered her services to help launch 
this valued community non-profit organization. For many years she 
served as a committed volunteer and fundraiser, and together with a 
group of like-minded individuals, she sustained and strengthened this 
premier community organization (now Bay Area Cancer Connections) that 
supports people touched by breast and ovarian cancer with 
comprehensive, personalized services in an atmosphere of warmth and 
compassion.
   Connie was a devoted wife, mother, grand mom, friend, and community 
leader. Her loyalty, style, energy, creativity, humor, determination 
and bravery are all hallmarks of who she was and made her 
unforgettable. She was an entrepreneur before the word was popularized 
. . . the owner of a tennis shop, Connie's Racquet, and a food 
business, Ultomato. She also brought her enduring sense of beauty to 
the Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University as a member of the Board.
   Connie leaves her beloved husband of 55 years, Albert (Pepsi), her 
children Melissa (Jonathan) and Michael (Susanne) and her beloved four 
grandsons, Mitch, Johnny, Ben and Tommy. Mr. Speaker, I ask the entire 
House of Representatives to join me in honoring and celebrating the 
life of Connie Eisenstat. In the words of Vincent Van Gogh:
   ``Close friends are truly life's treasures. Sometimes they know us 
better than we know ourselves.
   With gentle honesty, they are there to guide and support us, to 
share our laughter and our tears.
   Their presence reminds us that we are never really alone''.
   This beloved and unique woman strengthened her family, her friends, 
her community and her country. May our tribute to her be a source of 
pride and comfort to the entire Eisenstat family.

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