[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 17 (Thursday, January 28, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S193]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    REMEMBERING BARBARA A. O'MALLEY

  Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a 
beloved figure in the Senate community, the late Barbara A. O'Malley, 
who passed away on January 6.
  For three decades, Mrs. O worked in the office of our former 
colleague, Senator Barbara Mikulski of Maryland. She ran the front 
desk, which means I had the pleasure of seeing her regularly on the way 
to and from my nearby office. Especially in the mornings, she and I 
would chat about the news, the Senate, our families, and whatever else. 
She always greeted me with tremendous affection and kindness and baked 
some of the most delicious cookies I and my staff have ever had. We 
will miss her greatly.
  Mrs. O deeply loved her family. She was married to her husband, 
Thomas Martin, for 52 years until his death in 2006. Together, they had 
six children: Peter, Paul, Patrick, Martin, Eileen, and Bridgett; 15 
grandchildren; and 8 great-grandchildren.
  She also loved airplanes. While still in high school, she was among 
the first women to volunteer for the Civil Air Patrol during World War 
II, earning her pilot's license and taking to the skies. Later in life, 
she volunteered at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum to bring her 
love for aircraft and flight to all those who visited.
  The saying goes, if you want a friend in Washington, get a dog. Mrs. 
O proved that wrong. She treated everyone with good will and offered an 
important example of friendship to Senators and staff alike. Mrs. O 
lived her life in service to her Catholic faith, to her beloved State 
of Maryland, and to the Senate. I am proud to have called her a friend.

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