[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 135 (Friday, August 12, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E841]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING THE LIFE OF JOE PARADISO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOE COURTNEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, August 12, 2022

  Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a true 
hometown hero of Eastern Connecticut, attorney Joseph Paradiso, of 
Stafford Springs, Connecticut, who passed away sadly but peacefully at 
his home on Monday, August 8, 2022, at the age of 87.
  Born a Stafford Springs native to Joseph Sr. and Rachele Paradiso, 
Joe was always destined to serve as a steward of his community. Having 
graduated from Cheshire Academy, he was educated and trained in the 
Jesuit tradition at the College of Holy Cross and Georgetown Law in 
Washington, D.C. That tradition which infuses the highest standards of 
learning with a deep ethical core, clearly molded Joe's thoughtful, 
caring approach to the practice of law and his interaction with people 
from all walks of life.
  A gentleman who was captivated by opportunities to serve in any form, 
Joe joined the U.S. Army after earning his law degree. Upon his 
discharge, the pull of his roots in his home state of Connecticut 
brought him back to Stafford Springs to begin his career in law. Joe in 
many ways was a Stafford Springs version of the iconic small-town 
lawyer, Atticus Finch from ``To Kill a Mockingbird.'' Joe wore the 
badge of his alma mater with a sense of duty, gaining a reputation as a 
balanced, fair-minded prosecutor with a deep fidelity to the law. Madam 
Speaker, as a lawyer practicing in the same Tolland County community as 
Joe, I spent a lot of time in the courtrooms with him, working on cases 
that are a staple to small town America. I was fortunate enough over 
many years of working side by side, to earn Joe's friendship and get a 
close-up view of exactly who Joe was during his 37-year-long career as 
a prosecutor in the Rockville Superior Court system. I can attest, 
Madam Speaker, to the vibrant spirit that was Joe's heart--his fierce 
stance for taking the moral path regardless of the forces in 
opposition, and his respect for both people and clients regardless of 
their identity or background. Joe was both highly competent and fair, 
causing residents from all over the surrounding region to seek out his 
help in their moments of need. His big heart was willing to help them 
all.
  A beloved pillar of the community in Stafford, Joe wore many hats 
outside of his own practice. Even as I left the court room to run for 
public office, it is worth noting that I, too, continued to have 
dealings with him under his various roles within the community. 
Reflective of his lifelong passion to lift the voices of those around 
him, he was a staunch advocate for individuals with disabilities. Joe 
in fact co-founded Journey Found, a nonprofit organization with a 
mission to advance disability support services for individuals. Journey 
Found was organized in 2013 to fill the void left by a facility 
closure, which would have resulted in the disruption of the lives of 
more than 250 clients and staff, had Joe and the team at Journey Found 
not stepped in. Outside of his elective roles of advocacy, Joe remained 
involved and a known constant in Stafford through several other roles, 
including, for example, his regular commitment to community outings, 
involvement in numerous benefit societies, membership within the 
Stafford Rotary Club and tenure on the Stafford Public Schools Board of 
Education.
  Madam Speaker, it has been an honor to know and represent 
constituents of Eastern Connecticut like Joe Paradiso. He has been an 
inspiration and guiding light for countless members of our surrounding 
community, and his altruistic presence will be sorely missed. 
Predeceased by his wife Donna, Joe is survived by his three children, 
Joseph Paradiso III, Christopher Paradiso, and Rachel Paradiso as well 
as their respective families. Though we will mourn the enormous void 
left in his wake, it is an honor to join with his family and community 
in carrying his memory forward, purposing it as an example for others. 
To that end, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in saying 
farewell to an old friend and mentor, Joe Paradiso.

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