[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 191 (Thursday, December 8, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1238]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING THE LIFE OF MR. THOMAS KAYSER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 8, 2022

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to honor 
the life of Mr. Thomas Kayser, of Saint Paul, Minnesota, who passed 
away on November 15, 2022.
  Tom was a proud veteran of the United States Air Force. After 
graduating from Lawrence University, he served on active duty for eight 
years and as a reserve officer for 16 years, retiring with the rank of 
Lieutenant Colonel. He met his wife, Marlene Kayser, on a blind date, 
they married in 1959 and had three children, Carol, Tom and David. In 
1966 they moved to Saint Paul when Tom joined the law firm, Robins, 
Davis and Lyons, where he worked for over 50 years and went on to 
become the managing partner. During his time at the law firm, which 
eventually became Robins, Kaplan, Miller, and Ciresi, he often served 
as a volunteer attorney, including for the Minnesota ACLU, and received 
many honors, including being named Volunteer of the Year by the 
Volunteer Lawyers Network in 2007.
  Tom and his wife, Marlene, who passed away in 2018, were both 
dedicated activists and volunteers in the community, supporting 
organizations like Planned Parenthood and the Advocates for Human 
Rights. They were also founding donors of Admission Possible, now known 
as College Possible, which is a national organization working to 
increase access to higher education for low-income students. At the 
Kayser family home the door was always open to generously give back to 
their neighbors. They were known for hosting fundraising events in 
their home and even in their backyard for nonprofit organizations, 
candidates and elected officials ranging from United States presidents 
to school board members. Tom and Marlene served as a host family to 
many international students and connected countless community leaders, 
and Tom also served as a board member and advisor for the Saint Paul 
Parks Conservancy, and as an appointed representative on the Saint Paul 
Parks and Recreation Commission, where he also served as vice chair and 
committee chair.
  It was an honor to call Tom a friend and neighbor for many years. My 
deepest condolences are with his beloved family and many friends. Madam 
Speaker, please join me in tribute to Thomas Kayser for his remarkable 
life of service to our nation and our community.

                          ____________________