[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 194 (Thursday, December 5, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1546]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF SEBASTIAN J. ARESCO

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 5, 2019

  Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, It is with the heaviest of hearts that I 
rise today to join the many family, friends, and colleagues who have 
gathered to pay tribute to a very special member of the Middlefield, 
Connecticut community, Sebastian J. Aresco, who lost his battle with 
cancer late last week. Public servant, veteran, friend, and mentor, 
Seb's loss will be felt by many.
  Born in Middletown, Connecticut, Seb was a member of the United 
States Air Force and proudly served our country with distinction during 
the Vietnam War. He did not speak a lot about his time in the service, 
however, he spent countless hours with his fellow veterans throughout 
his life. He could often be found at events and programs sponsored by 
the local VFW. Seb was also very dedicated member of the Saint Colman 
Church community. In his professional life, Seb was a proud employee of 
the State of Connecticut--an auditor with the State Treasurer's office 
for several decades before his retirement just a few years ago. In his 
spare time, he could often be found at the shore, enjoying a day of 
fishing, grabbing a lobster or whole belly clam roll at Lenny and Joe's 
Fish Tale, or simply enjoying the tranquil beauty of the ocean.
  Seb took great pride in his military and state service, but he was 
perhaps best known for his work in the political arena. He was raised 
to understand the importance of our political process and his life 
experiences highlighted them even more so. He wanted to make a 
difference in his community, and he did so through the art of politics. 
He served on various Boards and Commissions in Middlefield, but it was 
his leadership as the Chair of the local Democratic Party--a position 
which he held for more than thirty years--where Seb excelled. Seb was 
one of those rare individuals who volunteered his time, energy, and 
even his home to ensure that every member of his community was 
encouraged to participate in the political process. He was a mentor to 
many as they became involved in local government and navigated elected 
office. He also had a unique understanding of how local, state, and 
federal government could work together to improve the quality of life 
for all. Though Middlefield is one of the smaller communities in 
Connecticut, Seb's dedication, passion, and commitment earned him the 
respect and admiration of political leaders across the state.
  Put simply, Seb was one of the good ones. He had a quiet strength and 
heart of gold. I, like so many others, consider myself fortunate to 
have known him and to have called him my friend. He will be deeply 
missed by family, friends, and the community to which he dedicated so 
much of his time and energies. His tireless efforts as a veteran, state 
employee, and community leader made a real difference in the lives of 
others and I am honored to have this opportunity to stand and pay 
tribute to the life and legacy of Sebastian J. Aresco. I extend my 
deepest sympathies to his daughters, Amanda and Andrea, as well as his 
longtime companion, Joan, at this most difficult time, and hope that 
they can find comfort in knowing that Seb's legacy of public service, 
generosity, and kindness will continue to inspire all of those 
privileged enough to have known him.

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