[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 86 (Thursday, May 19, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E537-E538]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING THE LIFE OF MR. MARK E. HAMISTER

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. CHRIS JACOBS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 19, 2022

  Mr. JACOBS of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today to remember and 
honor the life of Mark E. Hamister, who passed away on August 20, 2021, 
at the young age of 69.
  Mr. Hamister was born on October 18, 1951, in Western New York, where 
he lived most of his life. Mr. Hamister's love of Western New York led 
to his unwavering devotion to our region and dedication to improving 
the lives of its residents.
  Mr. Hamister's entrepreneurial spirit began at 15 years old when he 
started two businesses, a neighborhood lawn mowing business and Kenmore 
Engine Service. Later, while part of Junior Achievement he invented the 
O-Cello sponge. While attending Rochester Institute for Technology, he 
established RIT Students Cooperative, Inc. From RIT he worked his way 
to become the Administrator of the Shire at Culverton Assisted Living 
Facility. On June 1, 1977, he officially launched his career after 
buying an assisted living residence in LeRoy, NY and founded National 
Health Care Affiliates, Inc. After improving his first assisted living 
residence, he purchased others over the next 44 years. In 1998, he 
entered the professional sports business. He was awarded an expansion 
franchise in the Arena Football League for Buffalo, the Buffalo 
Destroyers. Mr. Hamister grew Hamister Group, LLC into one of the top 
investors in middle-market hotels and senior housing residences. Today, 
Hamister Group, LLC manages over 20 properties that employs over 900 
people, spanning seven states.
  Dedicated to making Buffalo, and Western New York as a whole, the 
best place it could be, Mr. Hamister was willing to work with anyone to 
help improve our region. Mr. Hamister was involved in numerous local 
organizations with community business leaders that worked to improve 
the City of Buffalo. He was actively involved in several local civic 
groups, boards of directors, and organizations, including the 
Republican National Committee, Invest Buffalo Niagara, the Erie County 
Industrial Development Agency, Empire State Development, Erie County 
Cultural Resources Advisory Board, University at Buffalo, Rochester 
Institute of Technology, Shea's Performing Arts Center, and Buffalo 
Seminary. His involvement and dedication to his community was 
recognized with numerous well-deserved awards for his entrepreneurship 
and leadership. These awards include the Buffalo Business First 
Lifetime Achievement Award, being named a Junior Achievement Hall of 
Fame Laureate, and in 1992, Mr. Hamister was named as an Entrepreneur 
of the Year for New York State. Nationally recognized repeatedly, as 
one of the fastest growing companies with Inc. 500/5000 magazine and a 
member of the Inc. 500/5000 Hall of Fame.
  Mr. Hamister also founded the Mark E. Hamister Foundation, which 
supports education, healthcare, and community service programs. The 
foundation primarily supports Western New York, Raleigh, NC and 
Southern Florida. The Foundation has supported organizations such as 
the University at Buffalo, Roswell Park, Cleveland Clinic, St. 
Gregory's Episcopal Church of Boca Raton, the Junior Achievement 
program, and the National Comedy Center to name a few.
  Mr. Hamister was a devoted son, husband, father and grandfather. He 
had a strong faith and instilled his values into his family and 
Hamister Group, which laid the foundation of the company's culture.
  Madam Speaker, please join me in celebrating Mr. Hamister's life, in 
honoring his work, and all his achievements.

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