[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 130 (Thursday, July 27, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S3744]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        REMEMBERING TOM MENTZER

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today to pay a heartfelt 
tribute to my long-time director of communications, Tom Mentzer, who 
passed away after a lengthy battle with cancer. Tom was a larger than 
life personality and his loss is still felt deeply by myself and our 
entire office.
  Tom was born in Poulsbo, WA, but spent a large part of his youth in 
Germany in the cities of Kaiserslautern and Heidelberg. He was a 
graduate of Heidelberg American High School and went on to DePauw 
University, where he majored in political science and communications. 
Tom stayed in Indiana for his graduate work and completed his master's 
in journalism at Indiana University in 2001.
  He began his communications career in 1994 as a reporter for the 
Heidelberg Herald-Post. Upon completion of his masters, Tom began work 
with Scripps Howard News Service before joining the Urban Institute. In 
2007, he was hired as a press secretary for Congressman Sam Farr. Tom 
joined my staff in 2010 as a press secretary, and 4 years later, he 
assumed the role of director of communications, which he maintained 
until his passing.
  Tom was among the best at his craft and he played a role in messaging 
nearly every piece of legislation from my office. I valued his wise 
counsel on many contentious issues, and he was by my side during the 
release of the torture report as well as multiple reelection campaigns, 
appropriations fights, and Supreme Court nominations. He was essential 
to our efforts on ending gun violence, climate change, water issues, 
and the Lake Tahoe Summit.
  Always ready with a humorous quip, Tom understood how to lighten the 
mood during the most difficult of days. His zeal for life was 
infectious, and it extended to many things outside of the office, 
including travel, sports, cooking, food, and drinks. Tom had a unique 
ability to connect with people from all walks of life and was a mentor 
to many in our office. He had an empathy that I admired, and I, like so 
many others, will greatly miss his wry take on issues of the day.
  Tom was private about his cancer diagnosis, and many did not know the 
extent of the disease. Although he did not beat cancer, he was 
determined not to let it define him. He was fond of a quote by the late 
comedian Norm MacDonald, who said, ``I'm no doctor, but I'm pretty sure 
if you die, the cancer dies at the same time. That's not a loss. That's 
a draw.''
  I will forever be grateful for Tom's wisdom and dedication to my 
office and the people of California. I offer my sincere condolences to 
Tom's family and his wife Kristen, with whom he shared the better part 
of 22 years of his life. I wish all of them the best during this 
difficult chapter of their lives.

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