[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 92 (Wednesday, June 10, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E871]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         COMMEMORATING THE LIFE OF SHIRLEY JEANNE MOSCOV STARK

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 10, 2015

  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the life of 
Shirley Jeanne Moscov Stark. Mrs. Stark passed away May 4, 2015, and, 
during her nearly 85 years, she impacted the lives of everyone she 
touched.
   Trailblazer is a word we hear often about those who pave the way for 
future generations. Rarely has that term been more fittingly used than 
now as we pay tribute to Shirley. Shirley Jeanne Moscov was born 
October 18, 1930, and raised in Canonsburg, PA, a small town outside of 
Pittsburgh. She was the daughter of Polish Jewish immigrants who first 
arrived in New York and eventually settled in Western Pennsylvania. Her 
parents ran one of the few grocery stores in town and lived above the 
store. As was true with so many immigrants of that era, they never took 
a vacation or attended family events together--the store had to be open 
to serve the community. This was the Great Depression; her parents 
would extend credit to their neighbors who couldn't afford to pay for 
needed food and supplies, and Shirley learned from a young age the 
value of charity and serving the needs of others.
   Shirley was an exceptionally bright and curious child. She read 
every book in the local library and excelled at school. But in a small 
coal town, educational opportunities were scarce. Few boys went to 
college and even fewer girls. In her early teens, one of her teachers 
recognized her abilities and potential and encouraged Shirley to apply 
to a very select program for gifted high school students offered by the 
University of Chicago. Shirley took the entrance exam and earned not 
only a perfect score, but admittance to the University. At the age of 
15, Shirley boarded a train to Chicago to begin her studies. Two years 
later, at 17, she had earned a Bachelor's Degree. Shirley returned to 
Pennsylvania where she enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh earning 
a Masters Degree in Mathematics. She was recruited by Westinghouse and 
heralded by the press as ``The World's Youngest Nuclear Physicist at 
19.'' While working at Westinghouse, she continued her studies and 
received yet another Masters Degree in psychology. A few years later, 
she married Sidney Stark, Jr. and decided to postpone her professional 
career in favor of raising a family.
   Parallel to Shirley's love of science was her passion in the fields 
of travel, music, art, and architecture. When her children, Seth and 
Sid, entered elementary school, she decided to pursue her passions and 
enrolled in graduate studies at the University of Pittsburgh Fine Arts 
Department. She spent summers and vacations in Europe expanding her 
knowledge and expertise. During her life she traveled to five 
continents and dozens of countries. Shirley was an inspiring teacher; 
she chaired the Art Department at Chatham College for seven years and 
taught various courses in Art and Architectural History at Carnegie 
Mellon University well into her later years. During this time, she also 
opened a small business, Travel Bound Books, and served as a consultant 
to specialized tours throughout Europe that focused on mankind's 
greatest artistic and architectural creations.
   With all of these achievements, Shirley is best remembered as 
charming and vivacious. Her home was always full of laughter, music, 
loved ones, and of course, great food. New Year's Eve parties, Seders, 
crab and lobster feasts, and holiday dinners at the Stark house were 
legendary. Shirley was a loving and devoted daughter, wife, mother, 
grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, and she made every person she 
met feel special and unique. Her sharp wit and sparkling spirit were 
infectious, and all who met her felt they were lucky and blessed to 
have known her.
   Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in celebrating the 
life of Shirley Jeanne Moscov Stark and in extending my deepest 
condolences to her family and friends. She will be greatly missed.

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