[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 195 (Friday, December 6, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1551]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                       IN MEMORY OF CATHY THOMAS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOE COURTNEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, December 6, 2019

  Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to observe and mourn the passing 
of one of the pillars of civic life in the Northeastern Corner of the 
state of Connecticut, Cathy Thomas. Sadly, Cathy passed away on 
November 26, 2019 surrounded by family and friends at Day Kimball 
Hospital in Putnam, Connecticut.
  Madam Speaker, Cathy served for 40 years as the Chair of the Thompson 
Democratic Town Committee--a record that I am confident will never be 
broken. In that role, Cathy supported hundreds and hundreds of 
candidates for town, state and federal office, generously volunteering 
her time to the nuts and bolts of campaigns--organizing conventions, 
lining up delegates, filing the critical paperwork to ensure ballot 
access and most of all, giving wise, common sense counsel to public 
officials about what the important issues were and how to talk about 
them, and address them. Forty years ago, Cathy was a pioneer political 
leader paving the way for women to occupy positions of power. Over 
time, the respect she garnered with her quiet, steely manner became an 
inspiration for other women to succeed in public office. It was truly 
fitting that she was awarded the 2019 Ella Grasso Women's Leadership 
Award this year. This is a special honor reserved to an elite group of 
Women in Connecticut named after the first woman in America to be 
elected the governor of a state in her own right. I personally 
experienced and benefitted from Cathy's dedicated work during all my 
campaigns for Congress. I will be forever grateful to her for her 
unstinting, unselfish help.
  Her life was not solely defined by politics and government. Cathy 
grew up in Thompson and attended Annhurst College and Nichols College 
where she received her degree in accounting. She worked as an 
accountant for many years at Davis publications in Worcester, 
Massachusetts. She was close to her brother Paul LaRoche of North 
Grosvenordale and had many friends in town with whom she enjoyed going 
to concerts, the beach, and Kittery, Maine. She was also an avid New 
York Yankees fan, living in an area that leans in favor of the Red Sox. 
Nonetheless, she reveled in the rivalry.
  Cathy's passing is a big loss for Northeastern Connecticut and was 
felt far and wide by all who knew her and will miss her. Madam Speaker, 
I ask the House to please join me in expressing our deepest condolences 
to her family and friends

                          ____________________