[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 130 (Monday, July 26, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E806-E807]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               EULOGY FOR SENATOR BIAGIO ``BILLY'' CIOTTO

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN B. LARSON

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 26, 2021

  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Madam Speaker, on March 29, 2021, I 
attended the funeral service of Senator Biagio ``Billy'' Ciotto. Billy 
was a former Connecticut State Senator, Deputy DMV Commissioner, and 
served on my District office staff since 2007. One of the most unique 
human beings that I have ever had the honor of knowing and working 
with, Billy epitomized what it meant to be a true public servant. I am 
eternally grateful for his friendship and his leadership. I wish to 
include in the Record my eulogy in honor of Billy's beloved wife 
Jeanne, and his dear children Maria, Julie, Anthony, John and Joey.

       Jeanne, Maria, Julie, Anthony, John and Joey. On behalf of 
     Leslie, myself, and the entire Congressional staff--our 
     hearts go out to you. The outpouring of people and tributes 
     keep coming in. Yet we know nothing or no one will ever be 
     able to fully convey the depth of the loss you are 
     experiencing.
       As Billy would often say, ``no one knows the sacrifice a 
     family endures when they support and stand with an elected 
     official.'' So, let us first and foremost acknowledge your 
     sacrifice and devotion that made it possible for all of us to 
     have benefited from Billy's service. His humanity, his 
     humility, and congeniality. We thank you for making it all 
     possible.
       Billy was unique, one of a kind, and something that is 
     constant throughout his service--whether at the Motor Vehicle 
     Department, the State Senate, or Congressional Office, he 
     greeted people and answered his call to public service. His 
     humility, and his humanity ever-present as he answered in 
     that unique and distinct cigar voice, ``how may I help you?''
       ``How may I help you?'' should be part of every teaching 
     and training course for public officials and staff. For 
     Billy, it came naturally. For him it was effortless and 
     genuine, heartfelt, and sincere. It was who he is!!
       Now I'm not saying he was angelic by any stretch. He had 
     his faults and an evil side to him. He was an ardent devotee 
     and follower of an evil empire: He was a Yankee fan. 
     Especially in 2007, 2013, and 2018. He did celebrate in 2009 
     but through all of 2019 when the Sox were cellar dwellers, he 
     would come in the office and announce with a cigar hanging 
     from the corner of his mouth ``does anyone know the standings 
     in the American League East, and do the Red Sox still play 
     baseball?''
       He was the envy of UCONN fans and politicians. He got more 
     TV time sitting right behind the bench of the Men's and 
     Women's basketball teams at every home game. When asked how 
     he got those seats, he said ``it was a blessing from St. 
     Paul'' . . . yeah, St. Paul Polo.
       And though devoutly religious, and apostolic, and Catholic, 
     he could be critical of a long winded homily in church. I 
     remember being at St. Patrick-St. Anthony with the family and 
     sitting directly in front of him. The priest was going on and 
     on with the phrase ``and may Jesus light a fire in your 
     heart.'' It was rather extensive, and I looked down and all 
     of a sudden saw my children laughing. I immediately gave them 
     the hairy eyeball and scornful look. After church when we 
     were in the car, I said ``how many times have I told you no 
     fooling around in church?'' They said, ``it wasn't us, it was 
     Mr. Ciotto.'' To which I said, ``Don't blame Mr. Ciotto.'' 
     They said, ``but Dad, he made fun of the priest's comments'' 
     and I said ``Mr. Ciotto? I don't believe it.'' They said, 
     ``well you know how the priest was saying may Jesus light a 
     fire under your heart?'' and I said ``yes.'' Well Mr. Ciotto 
     muttered, ``may Jesus light a fire under your ass.''
       Well Billy was also wise and was willing to impart his 
     wisdom on the youthful members of our staff. Then Chief of 
     Staff John Rossi was thirty and Billy was a youthful seventy-
     nine. Rossi was explaining how he told his wife about the 
     important and influential people he was meeting with day in 
     and day out, and the restaurants and clubs he was lunch and 
     dinner at. Billy who listened intently looked at him and 
     said, ``young man

[[Page E807]]

     you have an important and responsible position. And while I 
     am sure that it's exciting to you and maybe makes you feel 
     good when you are lavishing your wife with these experiences, 
     in my opinion you might try handling it a little different. 
     Having some experience in this field, I think if it were me, 
     you're better off when your wife asks, ``how was your day 
     dear?'' you say ``I was so busy I only had time for a tuna 
     fish sandwich.'' Or as he told Kevin Brown often ``old age, 
     experience, and treachery will defeat youth and ambition 
     every time.''
       Billy's obituary was full of the pride he had for his 
     Italian heritage and about what America had done for him. And 
     with justifiable pride acknowledged the journey of his 
     parents as well as his own. This was apparent with his 
     routine drive past the Motor Vehicle building which bears his 
     name. It does so because his parents embedded in him those 5 
     simple words:
       ``How may I help you?''
       He traveled to D.C. back in 2008 and was escorted by Linda 
     Christiana. His trip was highlighted by dinner at the Italian 
     Embassy with Ambassador Castellaneta. When I saw the 
     Ambassador weeks later, he remembered Billy, and how 
     entertaining and proud he was of his Italian heritage. He 
     added, ``he's even invited me to a Bocce tournament that I 
     believe is at your house!''
       That's our guy. And we have a letter here from the Italian 
     Embassy:


                    Letter from the Italian Embassy:

       We, at the Embassy of Italy were deeply saddened to learn 
     of the passing of Senator Biagio ``Billy'' Ciotto. In his 
     passing, Connecticut, and indeed the whole US, has lost a 
     great statesman, and a wonderful American, proud of his 
     Italian origins, which he never lost an opportunity to 
     proudly recall.
       The story of Senator Ciotto's life speaks clearly to his 
     many talents and innate human touch. His generosity, kindness 
     and dedication were a source of inspiration to the community 
     whom he served with passion, honor, and dignity. Senator 
     Ciotto was an exemplary civil servant, and wholeheartedly 
     dedicated himself to serving this great Country and his 
     fellow Americans, while never forgetting his ancestral land, 
     Italy.
       Our sincere condolences go out to Mrs. Ciotto, his family, 
     and the entire Italian-American and American community at 
     this moment of great loss. Senator Ciotto may be not with us 
     anymore, but his legacy lives on, and will always do so 
     through the many people, he touched, and inspired.
       Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.
       Grazie, Senator Ciotto.
       The first time he met with Nancy Pelosi there was an 
     instant bond. She had broken a barrier and was the first 
     woman Speaker of the House. And when he met her, bursting 
     with pride he said ``Madam Speaker you have broken a barrier 
     and as a father with two daughters I am so grateful and 
     proud. But as a young man, I listened to your father Thomas 
     D'Alesandro Jr. He was the first Italian Mayor of Baltimore 
     and he had a Sunday address, he made us proud of our heritage 
     and I listened intently to what he had to say. And now his 
     daughter is not only the first woman Speaker of the House, 
     but as important to people of our heritage and faith, she is 
     the first Italian.''
       The bond between them was instant and lasting. A mutual 
     admiration, so much so that after an eight year hiatus as 
     Speaker, when we recaptured the House and took back the 
     majority in 2018, her guest of honor at her swearing in was 
     Billy. And with a cigar in hand and escorted by Sarah Gianni, 
     he took it all in from his front row seat in the House 
     Balcony.


                    Letter from Speaker Nancy Pelosi

       Every now and then, a person comes along whose heart is so 
     full of love and whose life is so full of kindness that he 
     radiates joy: Such a blessed person is Billy Ciotta. Perhaps 
     he had such generosity of spirit because of how his parents 
     raised Biagio and because of his happy marriage to Jeanne.
       Everyone loved Billy, because they knew that Billy cared. 
     In his work, whether at the DMV or in the State Senate, where 
     he served with John Larson, whom he loved, he made everyone 
     feel important. In taking pride in his Italian American 
     heritage, he respected others' pride in theirs. In his faith 
     in God, he gave hope and charity to all. Anyone who was 
     blessed and shaped by Billy's friendship wanted to live up to 
     his loyalty.
       Billy was in the arms of his loving family on March 19, the 
     Feast of Saint Joseph, the patron saint of a happy death, 
     very special to Italian Americans, and made his passage on 
     the 20th. I hope it is a comfort to Jeanne and his children 
     Joseph, Anthony, Julia, John, and Maria, and their 
     grandchildren that so many people mourn their loss and are 
     praying for them at this sad time. Billy will be sadly missed 
     by all of us who loved him. In his life, Billy brought joy to 
     the world and now he has brought his humor to Heaven.
       Nancy Pelosi, Speaker, United States House of 
     Representatives.
       We know heaven will never be the same and he's up there 
     with some pretty good company. To be acknowledged and loved 
     by the entire community he served and yes to have the Italian 
     Ambassador and the Speaker of the House eulogize you is 
     pretty impressive. So many words of condolence for Jeanne and 
     the family. So many stories--therefore our staff will be 
     keeping the website open to post on what everyone sends to us 
     of your memories with Billy. And among the first of those 
     that we have is someone who knows something about the loss of 
     a beloved one. Jeanne, we have here a letter from the 
     President of the United States:


                    Letter from President Joe Biden

       Dear Mrs. Ciotta and Family, Please accept Jill's and my 
     heartfelt condolences on the passing of your beloved Billy. 
     Your entire family is in our thoughts and prayers.
       I know that this time must be difficult beyond words, and 
     you feel like there is a hole in your heart. In the hardest 
     of times like these, I always turn to family. It is so 
     important to be able to share the feeling of enveloping grief 
     and to have people you love nearby to absorb some of the 
     worst pain.
       Billy was a devoted husband and father who loved you all 
     immensely. He spent his life building and strengthening the 
     Ciotto family bonds, which are meant for you to lean on 
     during hard times like this. Your family shared Billy with 
     Connecticut and with the Nation--and thanks to your 
     sacrifices, he was able to help our country's most 
     vulnerable. Billy was a true public servant.
       Though the grieving process never quite ends, it is my hope 
     that you will find comfort knowing that Billy will forever be 
     in our hearts and memories and those of so many whose lives 
     he touched. From experience, I promise you the day will come 
     when his memory will bring a smile to your lips before it 
     brings a tear to your eye. My prayer for you and your family 
     is that day comes sooner rather than later.
       Sincerely, Joe Biden.
       Billy will always be with us. Provided we continue to post 
     and tell those stories we fondly remember. The most important 
     way he'll stay with us is if we follow his example by saying 
     when we have the opportunity: How may I help you?

                          ____________________