[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 21, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E795]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING THE LIFE OF MARVIN WAGNER

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 21, 2021

  Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I rise to celebrate the life of my dear 
friend Marvin Wagner, a pivotal Northern Virginia leader who passed 
away on May 23, 2020, at the age of 90.
  Marvin Wagner grew up in the Williamsburg public housing projects in 
Brooklyn, New York. From a young age Marvin had to support his mother 
and sister by working to put food on the table for his family all while 
going to school. In 1946, Marvin enlisted in the Army and was able to 
utilize the GI Bill to then attend Long Island University. After 
earning his four-year degree from LIU, he attended Brooklyn Law School 
and successfully passed the bar exam. Shortly after, he met and married 
the love of his life, Harriet, who became his partner and best friend 
for the next 66 years.
  Throughout his career, Marvin dedicated himself to service and 
strived to make the world a better and safer place. Marvin quickly 
became involved in Democratic politics and worked in local government 
on highway safety issues on Long Island. To learn new best practices 
for highway safety, Marvin traveled to Scandinavia to study their use 
of breath and blood alcohol tests to identify drunk drivers and 
introduced the concept locally in the town of Oyster Bay and Nassau 
County, New York. Later, he would go on to introduce his ideas as a 
member of the National Highway Traffic Safety Board within the 
Department of Transportation. Nationally, he helped formulate 
strategies that were instrumental in reducing drunk driving deaths such 
as: data-based testing, implied consent laws, and the legalization of 
roadblocks. Marvin also helped create national standards by continuing 
to educate lawmakers and judges all over the country.
  In addition to his groundbreaking work in the public health and 
safety area, Marvin focused his attention on helping juvenile offenders 
as an attorney in Fairfax, Virginia. Marvin's commitment and service to 
youth offenders led two governors to appoint him to the Juvenile 
Justice Commission in Richmond, where he served for eight years. His 
personal experience with poverty and adversity at a young age allowed 
him to skillfully advocate for the children and young adults that came 
through the juvenile justice system.
  Public service was at the core of who Marvin was. In addition to his 
contributions in public safety and the juvenile justice system, Marvin 
served as a leader of party committees throughout his adult life, the 
last eight years as the chair of the Democratic Club at Greenspring 
retirement community in Springfield, Virginia. He was passionate about 
music, theater, and dance, and he channeled that by serving as a 
volunteer usher with his wife, Harriet, at Wolf Trap in Vienna for 30 
years. Marvin also had an adventurous spirit--he loved to travel and 
made sure to take annual trips with his wife and family. But above all 
Marvin was a dedicated and loving husband, father, grandfather, and 
great-grandfather.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life 
and legacy of Marvin Wagner. His leadership and commitment to public 
service helped save lives all over the country, and he will be missed 
by all who knew him. I also extend my deepest condolences to his wife, 
Harriet; his loving children, Carole, Robert, Janet, and Steven; 
daughters-in-law, Laura and Jenny; son-in-law, Bill; and numerous 
grandchildren and great grandchildren. May his memory be a blessing.

                          ____________________