[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 120 (Monday, July 25, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1163-E1164]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING JOHN ARTHUR IVEY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 25, 2016

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life of 
an outstanding member of the East Bay community Mr. John Arthur Ivey. 
With his passing on June 21, 2016, we recognize his dedication and 
celebrate his commitment to our community.
  Mr. Ivey's life is an example of a journey well traveled and a life 
well lived. He was born on March 10, 1950, in the heart of my 
congressional district, at Highland Hospital in Oakland.
  Mr. Ivey used his education as a gateway to the world. During his 
formative years he attended Skyline High School where his love of 
literature and art began to emerge. He began his journey in higher 
education at The University of San Francisco where he pursued his 
interest in English and served as president of

[[Page E1164]]

the Black Student Union. He later transferred to Rutgers University, 
where he refined his writing skills under the guide of renowned 
playwrights and authors Nikki Giovanni and Sonya Sanchez. After earning 
his Bachelor of Arts in English from Rutgers University in 1972, he 
pursued a Master's Degree in Fine Arts at the University of California, 
Los Angeles.
  After graduation, his talent as a writer led him to compose two 
critically acclaimed plays ``Homer's Redemption'' and ``Resurgence,'' 
which ran at the Harding Theater in San Francisco for six months before 
touring college campuses. The University of San Francisco Black Alumni 
Association later awarded him an honorary degree in English and Theater 
Arts for his outstanding contributions.
  While his literary success is noteworthy, Mr. Ivey continued to 
evolve and use his talents to contribute to his community in new 
capacities. In 1976, he opened Ivey's Ribs and Spirits in Jack London 
Square with brothers Fred and James ``Jay'' Ivey. Ivey's was one of the 
first African American operated venues located in Jack London Square, 
and was the frequent gathering place for elected officials, community 
leaders, as well as local and national celebrities. Mr. Ivey's love of 
community, passion for art, and the amazing food he served gave way to 
the development of another Ivey's in Atlanta, Georgia. Those two 
restaurants soon grew to nine restaurants and lounges including 
Bluesville, Cherie's, Du Soleil's, and Clancy's. The environment he 
created welcomed artists from all mediums including the Commodores, 
Prince, Eartha Kitt, Jane Fonda, Phyllis Hyman, Stan Getz, Coretta 
Scott King, and James Baldwin.
  When Mr. Ivey retired from the restaurant business he began to 
partake in a new adventure. Mr. Ivey could be found cooking delicious 
meals, reading (and sharing his findings) voraciously, running Lake 
Merritt or traveling the globe. He combined passion for food, family, 
and writing, when he worked with his mother to publish Rosia Lee Ivey's 
Recipes For Life in 2008. In this book, he wittily incorporated her 
words of wisdom with her phenomenal culinary knowledge.
  He also worked with numerous community organizations to mentor inner-
city youth. His goal was to support and inspire the leaders of 
tomorrow. At the time of his passing, Mr. Ivey was actively working 
with Oakland Youth First, a nonprofit organization committed to 
providing wraparound, career and educational services to at-risk youth.
  Mr. Ivey was also an avid traveler. He visited Fiji as one of fifteen 
Bay Area Black Community and Business Delegates, China as part of a 
trade mission, and Tunisia, Morocco, Casablanca and Malaga among 
countless other destinations. No matter where his journey took him he 
always came back to the place where it all began, always ready to serve 
the community he called home.
  On a personal note, to know John was to love John. His smile was 
infectious, his encouragement was inspiring and his creativity was 
magical. John was a renaissance man, a man ahead of his time. As a role 
model for young African American men and boys, he gave them hope and 
pride. We will miss this magnificent human being, but his legacy will 
live forever.
  Today, California's 13th Congressional District salutes the legacy of 
Mr. John Arthur Ivey. His contributions have truly impacted countless 
lives throughout the Bay Area and the country. I join all of Mr. Ivey's 
loved ones in celebrating his incredible life and offer my most sincere 
condolences

                          ____________________