[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 101 (Tuesday, June 14, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E617]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF COMMUNITY LEADER AND PUBLIC SERVANT 
                              SYLVIA SASS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MARILYN STRICKLAND

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 14, 2022

  Ms. STRICKLAND. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and 
service of Sylvia Sass, an extraordinary public servant and community 
leader in Washington State.
  Since she was young, Sylvia Sass has been committed to overcoming 
obstacles. When Sylvia was 15, she applied for a sales position at a 
local shoe store where the store manager told her that they didn't hire 
women to sell shoes. She was given a trial period where she received no 
pay and, in the end, sold more shoes than the assistant manager. This 
same tenacity led Sylvia to become one of Tacoma's leading figures 
while serving her local and national community, raising a family, and 
owning a business.
  So it was no surprise in 1956, when Tacoma's Mayor needed help 
rebuilding international relations around the world in the aftermath of 
World War II, that he turned to Sylvia Sass. She became the mayor's 
representative for President Eisenhower's Town Affiliation Association, 
today Sister Cities International. Sylvia was a vital player in the 
early development of the organization and was appointed Washington 
State Coordinator for Sister Cities International. She attended 
regional meetings and represented SCI at annual League of Cities 
meetings with mayors from across the country. She was even one of 
twelve people selected as delegates to have lunch with President 
Eisenhower. To this day, she remains active as an honorary board member 
and is known as the First Lady of Sister Cities International.
  In addition to her work with SCI, Sylvia has been a dedicated 
community leader in Tacoma and Pierce County for decades, founding the 
Lakewood Alacoma Club, a non-profit center for recovering alcoholics, 
receiving a volunteer award from the National Association for Mental 
Illness, and serving on the University Place Parks and Recreation 
Commission. In 2011, as former Tacoma Mayor, I declared March 1 as 
Sylvia B. Sass Day to recognize the amazing service and work she has 
done for the city of Tacoma.
  Madam Speaker, Sylvia Sass exemplifies hard work, perseverance, and 
selfless service to others. She is a deeply respected member of our 
community and has profoundly impacted her region, country, and the 
world for decades. I am proud to call her my friend.

                          ____________________