[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 3 (Tuesday, January 8, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E13]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                     IN RECOGNITION OF DON CAPALBI

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GRACE MENG

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 8, 2019

  Ms. MENG. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Don Capalbi, 
my longtime staff member who also served as a civic leader in my 
district in Queens, New York.
   Don passed away at local hospice facility in the early morning hours 
of December 2, 2018. He had been hospitalized at Northwell Health after 
sustaining a head injury from a fall.
   Don was my Community Liaison from 2013 to 2018 and he served in the 
same capacity when I was a member of the New York State Assembly from 
2009 to 2012. My staff and I are devastated by his loss.
   Don worked tirelessly for the people of our Congressional district. 
He was an integral part of my team, providing me with information and 
advice about community issues, and representing me at civic meetings 
and local events. These included everything from community board and 
civic group meetings to press conferences and public ceremonies. One of 
the most recent issues he helped resolve was for the local Veterans of 
Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 3427 where he helped save costly fines.
   Don was a longtime resident of the Queensboro Hill neighborhood, a 
residential community in Flushing, Queens. In 2009, he became president 
of the area's civic group, the Queensboro Hill Flushing Civic 
Association. Don reinvigorated the organization and fought tremendously 
for the community. He dedicated countless hours to preserving and 
improving the quality of life in the neighborhood and tackled numerous 
causes. He fought against excessive airplane noise, advocated for 
traffic and transportation improvements, pushed for beautification 
enhancements and partnered with local schools and libraries on a 
variety of projects. He also worked to combat the increase of 
overdevelopment and many newspapers, from the Flushing Times to the New 
York Times, highlighted his efforts on the issue.
   In addition, Don was a member of many other community organizations 
in the Flushing area including the Greater Flushing Chamber of 
Commerce, New York Hospital Queens Community Advisory Council, 109th 
Precinct Community Council, Kissena Corridor Park Conservancy, Lions 
Club, Knights of Columbus and the NAACP.
   But Don was much more than a terrific civic activist and staff 
member. He was also a great human being; a wonderful and special person 
who was selfless and full of life, and one of the kindest, friendliest 
and gentlest people I've known. He touched and impacted so many lives 
and was loved, admired and respected by all with whom he worked. Rarely 
did I see him without a smile on his face.
   Born on March 2, 1945, Don was raised in Astoria, Queens. His mother 
Gaetana was an immigrant from Italy, and his father Frank hailed from 
Indiana. Don graduated from La Salle Academy High School and went on to 
attend Long Island University where he earned a degree in Business 
Administration. An only child, Don was primarily raised by his mother; 
his father passed away when he was just 10 years old. Don loved his 
mother dearly and he cared for her as she grew older. With his help, 
she lived to the ripe old age of 103.
   At the 1964-1965 World's Fair at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Don 
worked at the restaurant that was part of the famed Rheingold exhibit, 
and the job planted a seed for a career he had in the restaurant and 
food service business.
   While working at the World's Fair, Don saw firsthand the popularity 
of the Belgian waffles that the Fair helped introduce to the nation. 
Showing what a visionary entrepreneur he was, Don purchased two mobile 
food trucks and used the vehicles to sell the famous waffles to the 
public, a venture that lasted several years.
   Later on, Don supervised restaurant groups for Restaurant Associates 
Industries in Manhattan, and Inhilco division of Hilton International, 
where his responsibilities included the operation of six restaurants in 
the World Trade Center.
   Don then opened the Border Cafe on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, 
and later the College Green pub on Kissena Boulevard near Queens 
College.
   In addition, inspired by his love of travel, Don launched Away U Go 
Travel, a travel agency for people with disabilities.
   Despite Queens being the home of the New York Mets, Don was a 
diehard Yankees fan, and often discussed his fondness for the Bronx 
Bombers and the game of baseball. He loved all types of food from soup 
dumplings to pasta, enjoyed traveling--particularly on cruises--and was 
proud of his Italian heritage. He was also a fan of Caribbean music. 
But above all, he loved Queens. He had a deep affection for the borough 
he called home and always embraced its diversity, history and culture.
   I thank Don for his many years of dedication, and I will always 
remember his unwavering commitment to our constituents, and his many 
efforts to make our Congressional district a better place for all who 
live and work in west, central and northeast Queens. His contributions 
will have a lasting impact for many years to come.
   There are so many wonderful words that can be used to describe Don. 
Simply put, he was a class act; a decent and honorable person and a man 
of great integrity who served his community and our district with 
tremendous distinction.
   Madam Speaker, I ask all my colleagues in the House of 
Representatives to join me in praising the work and dedication of Don 
Capalbi. He will be sorely missed but the legacy of his service, and 
the contributions he made to help others, will never be forgotten. He 
will remain in our hearts forever.

                          ____________________