[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 150 (Wednesday, September 18, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1173]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING THE LIFE OF RAYMOND OSHANA

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 18, 2019

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to share my deepest 
condolences with the family and friends of Raymond Oshana. Ray was a 
dear friend of mine and my district office team for over two decades, 
and a prominent leader in the Assyrian community. Ray unexpectedly 
passed away earlier this week, and my heart breaks for his wife, Nadia, 
and his children Pierre, Ninos, and Mary, and everyone in the community 
who feels the weight of his passing, including me. His exuberant 
personality and generosity touched everyone he met, and anyone who knew 
Ray was better for it. He will be missed deeply.
  Born in Baghdad in 1951, Ray came to the United States as a young man 
in 1970. Ray's story and contributions exemplify the fact that 
immigration makes our nation and our communities stronger and better. 
Shortly after arriving in the United States, Ray started the Assyrian 
Athletic Club. This club has supported thousands of Assyrian youth 
since its inception and next year, the organization will celebrate its 
50th anniversary. During this same period, Ray helped found a group 
called the East Bird Band, helping create an iconic Assyrian 
Nationalist song, despite the fact that the band members didn't know 
how to play musical instruments in the beginning.
  Ray was an active member of dozens of civic organizations including 
the Assyrian American Association of Chicago, and he was the Midwest 
Regional Director for the Assyrian American National Federation at the 
time of his passing. His name and contributions were known by everyone 
in the Assyrian community, and my office and I worked closely with him 
and the community in the 9th Congressional District on many issues and 
projects.
  Ray Oshana had a smile and personality that brightened every room he 
entered. He was one of the kindest people I have ever met, and I looked 
forward to each opportunity that he and I had to sit down and talk 
about our families and what we could do to help Assyrians here in 
Illinois and back in the Middle East, where they face many deadly 
challenges. Ray was a lifelong fighter for and an effective advocate on 
behalf of his community.
  On behalf of a grateful nation, I thank Raymond Oshana for his 
tireless work. We will miss him.

                          ____________________