[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 195 (Friday, November 5, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1213-E1214]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING THE LIFE OF FRANK VAJDA

                                  _____
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, November 5, 2021

  Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I rise to celebrate the life of Frank 
Vajda, a dedicated public servant who passed away on January 27, 2021, 
at the age of 84.
  Frank Vajda grew up in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and went on to 
attend Rutgers University on a full academic scholarship. He graduated 
with a degree in electrical engineering which he used throughout his 28 
years of service in the United States Air Force. His military 
assignments included the Air Force Weapons Laboratory, the Los Alamos, 
NV Test Site, the Air Force Institute of Technology, the Defense 
Nuclear Agency, two tours at the Pentagon and a tour with the Foreign 
Technology Division, where he met his future wife, Judith.
  After retiring from the Air Force, Frank and Judith relocated to 
Fairfax County where he became very active in community activities. 
Frank quickly got involved with his local civic association, the Court 
of Camelot Civic Association, where he went on to serve as president. 
He also founded the Camelot annual holiday charity fund drive which 
raised thousands of dollars for the Children's Hospital. Frank's years 
of dedication to the Court of Camelot was recognized in 2016, as Frank 
was named a Knight of Camelot by the civic association.
  In addition to his work with the Civic Association, Frank served on 
the Camelot Neighborhood Watch Group, which is the oldest continuing 
Neighborhood Watch in the nation. He organized and promoted the first 
park watch group at Pine Ridge, a local neighborhood park, and because 
of his public safety efforts, the Park Authority, the Fairfax County 
Police, and the Rose Purple have established the countywide PARKWATCH 
system.
  Frank dedicated countless hours to the Fairfax County Parks, starting 
with his time as a member of the Steering Committee for the Friends of 
Mason District Park. He went on to serve as a park volunteer for 
numerous festivals and events and was selected as the

[[Page E1214]]

Mason District Representative to the Public Safety and Park Bond 
Referendum Committee for his dedication to safety during all park 
events and activities. In 2001, Frank was appointed to the Park 
Authority Board where he dutifully represented Mason District for 16 
years.
  Public service was at the core of who Frank was. Although he did not 
do any of this for the recognition, his dedication to his community 
earned him numerous awards, including the 1998 Elly Doyle Park Service 
Award and the Mason District Council of Civic Associations' Man of the 
Year award.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life 
and legacy of Frank Vajda. His leadership and commitment to public 
service and safety was inspirational, and he will be missed by all who 
knew him. I also extend my deepest condolences to his wife, Judith, and 
his faithful companion, Jake.

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