[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 166 (Friday, October 5, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1365-E1366]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING THE LIFE OF ADELAIDE MARGARET CONNAUGHTON

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GRACE MENG

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 5, 2018

  Ms. MENG. Mr. Speaker, Adelaide Margaret Connaughton, of Forest 
Hills, New York passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, May 12th, 2018. 
Adelaide was born in Brooklyn, New York on September 24, 1958 to 
Veronica (Ronnie) and Kenneth Connaughton. Adelaide Connaughton was a 
long-time community activist who participated in New York City politics 
and civic activities since she was 15 years old.
  In high school, Adelaide worked as an intern for then Assistant 
Queens District Attorney, Geraldine Ferraro, and went on to work for 
several elected officials, including the first Lesbian Latina member of 
the New York City Council, Margarita Lopez.
  Prior to joining the staff of Council Member Lopez, Adelaide served 
as a Lieutenant for the New York City Emergency Medical Service of the 
Fire Department of New York and retired after 20 years of service. She 
also briefly sold real-estate, and achieved ``million dollar'' agent 
status at a local real estate firm.
  Her last position before she passed away in May 2018 was as a Senior 
Entitlement Specialist for the Fortune Society, a non-profit 
organization with a 50-year track record of providing those in the 
criminal-justice system with the supportive, wrap-around services 
needed to thrive as positive, contributing members of society. At 
Fortune, Adelaide provided assistance to formerly incarcerated men and 
women, and supported them as they re-entered society. In her spare 
time, Adelaide loved to be with family and friends and held many 
volunteer political and civic positions in New York City.
  Adelaide has always demonstrated a passion for helping the most 
vulnerable among us, particularly homeless LGBT youth. At Safe Space, a 
non-profit organization dedicated to families and youth, Adelaide 
worked in the LGBT Division where she helped link homeless LGBT youth 
to supportive care.
  Using political action to fight for progressive causes important to 
the LGBT community and all New Yorkers, Adelaide has served on the 
Board of Governors of the Stonewall Democratic Club of NYC and the 
Executive Board of AIDS Center of Queens County (ACQC). Adelaide was 
also a founding Vice-President of the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic 
Club.
  From 2012 to 2018, Adelaide and her West Highland Terrier, Elvis, 
participated in a therapy dog program sponsored through the Auxiliary 
of NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi. Adelaide and Elvis visited patients 
once a week at Jacobi to help with their healing process. In addition, 
they visited patients in the psychiatry department once a month at NYC 
Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx. For all of this effort, Elvis 
and Adelaide were the first dog/human team to receive an Auxiliary 
Award from NYC Health + Hospitals.
  Adelaide lived with her life-partner, Lynn Schulman, and their dog 
Elvis in Forest Hills, Queens, NY.

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