[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 189 (Tuesday, November 26, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1507-E1508]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 RECOGNIZING JANYCE ``JAN'' HEDETNIEMI

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 26, 2019

  Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise to 
announce the passing of a titan in Fairfax County, Janyce ``Jan'' 
Hedetniemi. I had the great privilege of knowing and working with Jan 
for many years and I was proud to call her a friend.
  Jan was born and grew up in Sewickley, Pennsylvania and received her 
bachelor's degree in psychology and English literature from the 
Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University) 
followed by her master's degree in psychology and counseling and 
guidance from Indiana University in 1963. She moved to the Washington, 
D.C. area where she served in the early part of her career as assistant 
dean of women at the University of Maryland and director of development 
at Mount Vernon College.
  Jan embarked on a long and illustrious career of Federal public 
service, first as a social science analyst with the President's 
Biomedical Research Panel and thereafter in a series of progressively 
responsible positions at the National Institutes of Health in program 
planning and development initiatives, including the NIH Research Agenda 
on Women's Health and the National Action Plan on Breast Cancer. She 
was appointed in 1994 as the first director of the NIH's newly 
established Office of Community Liaison, serving in that position until 
her retirement from the NIH in 2002. Jan's service there was recognized 
with two NIH Director's Awards.
  Jan had an unquenchable passion for community service and civic 
leadership. She served as president of her homeowner's association for 
many years and as co-chair of the Braddock District Democratic 
Committee from 2009 to 2013. She served as a member of the Boards of 
the Fairfax County Park Authority and Park Foundation and was appointed 
to the Planning Commission where she served from 2013 to 2017. Jan also 
chaired the Fairfax County Transportation Advisory Committee and four 
separate Bond Referendum Committees. In recognition of her countless 
contributions and dedication to our community, Jan was named the Board 
of Supervisors' Lady Fairfax for the Braddock District in 2004, 
Braddock District Member of the Year for 2013, and the 2014 Citizen of 
the Year by the Fairfax County Federation of Citizens Associations.
  Jan was also an avid outdoors sportswoman, both as a tennis player 
and as an equestrian. She served as captain of two United Tennis 
Association Adult Women's Teams. As a horse owner, she participated for 
many years in dressage training and competition and served as a member 
of the Fairfax County Equestrian Services Task Force.
  Jan was loved by many and respected by all. I was proud to name her 
to serve as Presidential Elector of the 2012 Electoral College from the 
11th Congressional District of Virginia for the re-election of 
President Barack Obama. Her service to her community and country is 
expansive and commendable and her presence will be deeply missed.

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