[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 62 (Tuesday, April 17, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H3350]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      MEMORIALIZING THE LIVES OF FRANK SKARTADOS AND JUDY KENNEDY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Sean Patrick Maloney) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
memorialize two beloved elected officials from the Hudson Valley who 
passed away this weekend: Assemblyman Frank Skartados and Newburgh 
mayor, Judy Kennedy.
  First, Assemblyman Frank Skartados represented a number of 
communities up and down the Hudson Valley. He lost a battle with cancer 
early Sunday morning. Even though he was struggling through his 
sickness, Frank still fought relentlessly for his neighbors up in 
Albany.

                              {time}  1045

  Frank was an immigrant from Greece, grew up on a small Greek island, 
came to America as a teenager, learned English, paid his way through 
school, and built a successful business. He went on to represent the 
people of the Hudson Valley and the State Assembly for nearly a decade. 
Now, if that is not the American Dream, I don't know what is. My heart 
goes out to the Skartados family and to everyone else grieving his 
loss. We will miss Frank sorely.
  I would also like to memorialize Judy Kennedy, the mayor of Newburgh, 
New York. Judy and I shared a love for the city of Newburgh. Judy also 
passed away from cancer this weekend. She fought through her sickness 
to serve the people she cared so much about and the city she loved.
  She was a relentless warrior for the people she represented. She 
brought the city of Newburgh through an economic crisis and presided 
over a real revitalization throughout that city. Our thoughts are with 
the Kennedy family as well, and, of course, the entire Newburgh 
community that will miss her leadership.
  The public servants we lost this weekend were truly special people. 
They dedicated their lives to the people they served, and the best way 
for us to honor their legacy is to finish their work, to look out for 
the communities they represented, and to make sure they stay the 
wonderful places to live, work, and raise a family that they are.
  Frank and Judy, thank you for all you have done for us. I hope 
everyone in the Hudson Valley joins me in saying a prayer in 
remembrance of their service, and, of course, we will see them; we will 
see them whenever we see the government doing something right. We will 
see them when we see the city of Newburgh continue to thrive. We will 
see them when we see the State government improving our environment--
looking out for working families, fighting for people without a voice. 
That is where we will see their legacy, when we continue the work they 
fought so nobly and so long to advance.
  Rest in peace.

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