[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 166 (Friday, October 21, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1071]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                   HONORING THE LIFE OF GERI LANGLOIS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOE COURTNEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 21, 2022

  Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to mourn the passing of a 
beloved Northeastern Connecticut public servant, Mr. Geri Langlois of 
Windham, Connecticut. Geri Langlois sadly passed at the all too young 
age of 68 on Sunday, September 18, 2022, after a valiant battle with 
myelodysplastic syndrome. Mr. Langlois was a leader who was 
instrumental in executing successful development projects in eastern 
Connecticut which will have a lasting legacy on the lives of residents 
throughout the region.
  Born on April 16, 1954, in Putnam, Connecticut to Carol and Edrose 
Langlois, Geri grew up with his family only a few towns south of 
Windham in Canterbury. Geri graduated from Windham High School and 
continued to practice his devotion to learning at Southern Illinois 
University Carbondale. Geri was a true jack of all trades, including, 
for example, the additional education he gained from MIT where he 
studied computer sciences, as well as his numerous other passions, from 
gardening to crafting custom guitars.
  Upon his graduation from university, Geri's lifelong arc began to 
bend to its true form: public service. In applying his unique ability 
to master any new skill or challenge before him, Geri first started out 
as an organizer for the Connecticut Citizen Action Group, committing 
himself toward the mission of creating a just and sustainable 
Connecticut. Given his natural success at community organizing, Geri 
then ran for and was elected to the position of First Selectman of the 
Town of Thompson, yet another community in the northern reaches of the 
Second District of Connecticut. Among his countless skills, Geri was 
clearly most adept as an advocate for others, and his neighbors 
ultimately promoted him to the elected office of State Representative 
of the 51st District. Madam Speaker, I had the pleasure of serving in 
the Connecticut General Assembly in the 1980s and early 1990s as a 
colleague of Geri, and had a front row seat to watch him in action. I 
witnessed his intelligent, principled advocacy for the people of the 
51st District which was highly successful. State Representative 
Langlois specifically facilitated many key economic development 
projects including the revitalization of Windham Mills, an iconic site 
in the Town of Windham as well as the enactment of a prescription drug 
plan for Connecticut seniors in 1987 which predated the U.S. Congress 
passage of Medicare Part D by 14 years. Geri was a great friend and an 
ally on many issues during our time together and his honorable service 
will be remembered for all time.
  Geri Langlois' charisma extended far past the state officials he 
routinely worked with and came to be known as a ``fighter of the 
people.'' After his terms as State Representative and First Selectman, 
Geri remained a stalwart champion of economic development through his 
tenure as Executive Director at the Northeast Connecticut Economic 
Alliance and President of the Windham Mills Development Corporation. At 
the Northeast Connecticut Economic Alliance, he helped struggling small 
businesses obtain funding when they were locked out of obtaining funds 
from traditional lending sources, spurring economic activity throughout 
all of Windham County. As a member of the Windham Zoning Board of 
Appeals, he remained an active participant in community-based 
discussions, oriented toward economic development, through to his final 
days.
  Geri's most defining trait was his love for his family. Despite Geri 
leading an immensely busy life and career, he always made certain to 
prioritize his wife of 27 years, Sherry, children, and grandchildren. 
In fact, the bond between Sherry and Geri was so well tuned that they 
even co-founded a business together, Rapid Framework, which was 
missioned toward supporting other businesses through website 
development services.
  Madam Speaker, it is an honor to represent constituents as devoted to 
the prosperity of their community as Geri Langlois. Geri's storied 
career of public service is a shining beacon that has reflected onto 
countless others to inspire good citizenship. I am honored to have 
gained the opportunity to work with such a remarkable individual on 
behalf of eastern Connecticut. His memory will live on in the hearts of 
his family and throughout the communities and businesses which he 
helped grow. To that end, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me 
in honoring Geri's life, so that his distinct work in service to the 
region may never be forgotten.

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