[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 7 (Thursday, January 11, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E33]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING THE LIFE OF FRANK NAPOLITANO

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ZOE LOFGREN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 11, 2018

  Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I rise, along with my colleagues, 
Congressman Pete Aguilar, Congresswoman Karen Bass, Congresswoman 
Nanette Barragan, Congressman Ami Bera, Congresswoman Julia Brownley, 
Congressman Salud Carbajal, Congressman Tony Cardenas, Congresswoman 
Judy Chu, Congressman Lou Correa, Congressman Jim Costa, Congresswoman 
Susan Davis, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier, Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, 
Congressman John Garamendi, Congressman Jimmy Gomez, Congressman Jared 
Huffman, Congressman Ro Khanna, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Congressman 
Ted Lieu, Congressman Alan Lowenthal, Congresswoman Doris Matsui, 
Congressman Jerry McNerney, Congresswoman Grace Napolitano, Congressman 
Jimmy Panetta, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, Congressman Scott Peters, 
Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, Congressman Raul Ruiz, 
Congresswoman Linda Sanchez, Congressman Adam Schiff, Congressman Brad 
Sherman, Congresswoman Jackie Speier, Congressman Eric Swalwell, 
Congressman Mark Takano, Congressman Mike Thompson, Congresswoman Norma 
Torres, Congressman Juan Vargas, and Congresswoman Maxine Waters, to 
honor the extraordinary life of Frank Napolitano, husband of U.S. 
Congresswoman Grace Flores Napolitano and longtime Norwalk community 
leader and activist.
   Frank Napolitano was born and raised in New York City, where he 
spent his formative years, before military service and moving to 
California. He was a successful chef, restaurateur and businessman for 
over two decades. He met and later married the former Grace Flores 
Musquiz in 1982 and began a post-business career as a prominent 
community volunteer and philanthropist.
   Frank Napolitano rose to become a highly recognized leader with the 
City of Norwalk where he served for many years as Chairman and member 
of the Senior Citizens Advisory Commission; he was designated Citizen 
of the Year by the Norwalk Community Coordinating Council; and prior to 
that served on the city Parks and Recreation Commission. He also served 
as an officer and member of several civic and fraternal organizations 
including the Norwalk Knights of Columbus as a Fourth Degree Member and 
the Norwalk Lions Club as a Melvin Jones Award recipient.
   It was during these many years that he worked tirelessly on several 
important community benevolent projects including distributing 
thousands of turkeys and food baskets to families in need during the 
holiday seasons. He was instrumental in organizing many community 
carnivals and fairs on behalf of the city and service organizations at 
the City Hall Lawn to raise much needed funds for their community 
projects.
   Frank's commitment to community service, led to his most significant 
and long-lasting program, the Norwalk Santa's Sleigh Foundation. 
Together with Norwalk Mayor Luigi Vernola and Vernola's daughter Lisa 
Salas, they co-founded the annual Santa's Sleigh visitation program in 
1989 in cooperation with the City, Los Angeles County Fire and 
Sheriff's Departments to distribute toys and goodies to Norwalk Youth 
and Families throughout the Christmas and holiday season. This award 
winning program has been imitated by numerous cities and has provided 
countless families with extra Christmas spirit for decades.
   In recognition for his business acumen and community service, 
Napolitano was appointed to the California state Senate Insurance 
Committee Advisory Commission on Small Business in 1988. He served for 
several years advising on the effects of insurance industry practices 
on small businesses. He left the commission upon the election of his 
wife Grace to the California State Assembly in 1992.
   Frank Napolitano was the constant protector and provider for his 
large combined family which today has grown to four generations 
including children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, also his son 
Louis Napolitano of New York. Frank was the bedrock of continuous 
support for his beloved wife throughout her career that began with 
service on Norwalk City International Friendship Commission, later 
elected to the Norwalk City Council, the California state Assembly and 
for the past twenty years as a Member of the U.S. House of 
Representatives serving for ten terms in Congress.
   Today, The California Democratic Congressional Delegation salutes 
and honors an outstanding husband, father and civil servant, Mr. Frank 
Napolitano. We will join all of Frank's loved ones in celebrating his 
incredible life. He will be deeply missed.

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