[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 135 (Friday, September 18, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1325-E1326]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING THE LIFE OF JOHN LESCOE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOE COURTNEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 18, 2015

  Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor and remember the 
life of John Lescoe, Jr. of Willimantic, Connecticut who passed away on 
September 14, 2015. John was a lifelong resident of Willimantic, where 
he lived with his wife Pauline ``Bunny'' Lescoe. He served as a State 
Representative for the 49th District in the Connecticut General 
Assembly for 12 years and First Selectman for the Town of Windham for 
two and a half years.
  John graduated from Windham High School in 1956. Following his two 
year service in the Marine Corps, John worked at Pratt & Whitney for 
eight years as a machinist. John then entered another phase of his life 
by enrolling in Eastern Connecticut State University in 1966, and 
graduated with a degree in Physical Education.
  John put his new degree to work by teaching physical education, 
social studies, and language arts for 30 years at Horace Porter 
Elementary School in Columbia, CT. In 1986, John won election to serve 
as State Representative of the 49th District in the Connecticut General 
Assembly. After representing the 49th District in Hartford from 1987 to 
1999, John shifted to serve two and a half years as First Selectman for 
the Town of Windham.

[[Page E1326]]

John also served the town as Alderman, Selectman, and was the last 
mayor of Willimantic and the first mayor of Windham. Among John's 
signature accomplishments, were helping to secure funding for the town 
to install lights and a playground at Recreation Park, the Textile 
Museum, and the iconic ``Frog Bridge'' downtown.
  Beyond his 32 years of service as a public servant, John's reputation 
for civic engagement was legendary. He was passionate about recreation, 
and not only played on a softball team himself for over 50 years, but 
also ran the Elk's ``Hoop Shoot'' and the Knights of Columbus Free 
Throw contest for over 40 years, was a member of the Town Recreation 
Commission, and was involved with Little Pal basketball, Little League 
baseball, WYO and the intermediate junior high basketball travel team.
  No sporting event did John care about more than his children's 
athletic events--he even created a shortcut on his computer to track 
his daughter's statistics for the Springfield College basketball and 
rugby teams. John's hard work to promote civic engagement and youth 
recreation was recognized when he was honored as the P.O.B.E. Elks Club 
Elk of the Year in 2003-2004, as president of the Polish Club, and an 
honorary member of the Franco-American Citizens Club.
  The Windham community will miss John deeply. I ask my colleagues to 
join me in offering our condolences to his wife, Pauline, and his 
family as they mourn the passing of a good man.

                          ____________________