[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 14615-14616]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                   TRIBUTE TO ARMANDO ``ACE'' ALAGNA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DONALD M. PAYNE

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 13, 2000

  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, recently, the city of Newark experienced the 
sad loss of a wonderful community leader whom I was proud to call a 
friend, Mr. Armando ``Ace'' Alagna. Publisher of the popular newspaper 
The Italian Tribune, Mr. Alagna distinguished himself through his many 
humanitarian contributions, not only in our community, but around the 
globe. Proud of his Italian heritage, he was instrumental in the naming 
of the Columbus Day holiday, and he transformed the Columbus Day Parade 
in Newark into one of the largest and most successful in the entire 
nation. I know my colleagues here in the U.S. House of Representatives 
join me in honoring the memory of this great patriot and humanitarian 
and in extending our sympathy to the Alagna family. I submit the 
beautiful eulogy delivered by

[[Page 14616]]

his daughter, Marion Fortunato, be included in the official 
Congressional Record:

                     Eulogy, Armando ``Ace'' Alagna

       We gather here today . . . in this beautiful church . . . 
     among friends and family to say goodbye to my father, Ace 
     Alagna. There were few places he cherished more than this. 
     His father helped build it decades ago and he was forever 
     devoted to St. Lucy's and the Blessed Mother. He would swell 
     with pride to see all of you here today, paying last 
     respects, and remembering the life you shared with him in a 
     setting so dear to his heart.
       Since my father passed away last week, nearly everyone who 
     has known him has taken a moment to share with me, and the 
     rest of the family, memories they had of him--favors he had 
     done, photos he had taken, laughs they had shared. Seemingly 
     everyone held a cherished memory of him in their heart. 
     Suddenly, I realized how much I shared my father with all of 
     you. He wasn't just a father to me and my sisters; he wasn't 
     just a husband to our mother. He was someone to whom many of 
     you turned. I know how much it meant to him to be able to 
     help in time of trouble and how much he enjoyed celebrating 
     prosperity. The cards, phone calls, prayers, and your 
     presence here today shows my family how much he meant to all 
     of you and we thank you for helping ease the pain of this 
     difficult time.

     Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord
     from henceforth, Yea, said the Spirit,
     that they may rest from their labours;
     and their works do follow them.

       Ace Alagna's ``works'' will indeed follow him to his 
     Eternal home and those he left behind will remember his 
     ``labours.'' The people of Italy for whom he organized a one 
     million dollar relief effort--building shelters for the 
     homeless and a children's home, bringing hope to a land 
     ravaged by despair--will remember his labours. The people of 
     Poland--for whom he arranged the delivery of surplus 
     medicinal supplies during a time of terrible disease--will 
     remember his labours. Most importantly, the people of Italian 
     heritage in America--on whose behalf he fought for most of 
     his life--will remember his labours.
       Countless families will long treasure the photos he took of 
     their loved ones--weddings and communions, births and 
     baptisms--if the occasion was special, the Italian American 
     community knew who to call: ``One Shot Ace.'' Then, after 
     years spent photographing United States presidents as a 
     member of the White House Press Corps, he bought a struggling 
     weekly newspaper, the Italian Tribune, and turned it into the 
     voice of the Italian American people. If an issue concerned 
     the Italian American community, you can be sure Ace had an 
     opinion. More often than not, his ideas met with great 
     success and helped earn for our community the respect and 
     recognition we deserve as major contributors to the American 
     mosaic.
       Ethnic pride is a concept most people consider in their 
     spare time. For some, it is a chance to associate with a few 
     friends. For others, it is a hobby to be dusted off a couple 
     of times each year for a few parades and festivals. A few 
     make a genuine effort to make a real contribution. But it 
     takes someone like my father--someone willing to dedicate his 
     life full time to the cause to make a significant difference.
       He played a large role in the naming of Columbus Day as a 
     national holiday. He revived the Newark Columbus Day Parade 
     and served as its Executive Director for nearly thirty years. 
     He brought A-list celebrities, huge crowds and millions of 
     dollars of revenue to a city directly in need of an economic 
     and social boost.
       All along, my family had a front row seat as we watched 
     this amazing man succeed where others had failed. We watched 
     with awe as he presented awards to American heroes such as 
     Ronald Reagan, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, and Frank 
     Sinatra. We watched with pride as he was thanked for his 
     efforts. Keys to cities all around the world. Plaques from 
     organizations which had benefitted from his midas touch.
       We watched with admiration as Pope John Paul II thanked him 
     for efforts on behalf of the people of Poland. Our hearts 
     swelled as he was made a Knight of Malta, the highest honor 
     the Catholic Church can bestow upon a lay person. His most 
     treasured accolades were presented by the Italian government: 
     Cavallere della Republica D'Italia and the Cavaliere 
     Officiale.
       He was the first Italian American to receive the State of 
     Israel Award, presented in recognition of his contributions 
     to the brotherhood of nationalities. He also received the 
     John F. Kennedy Library for Minorities Award, the Four 
     Chaplains Legion of Honor Award, the Boys' Towns of Italy 
     Humanitarian Award, and the National American Committee on 
     Italian Migration Award. One of his final accolades--the 
     Ellis Island medal of honor--was a fitting cap on his 
     remarkable life. Given to Americans of ethnic origin who 
     exemplify the ideals of our melting pot society, the Medal of 
     Honor brought closure to a life spent living the American 
     dream.
       There is an old Italian proverb: Chi fa buona vita, fa 
     buona morte. He who lives well, dies well. A good life makes 
     a good death. Few people ever squeezed more life out of their 
     time on this Earth than did my father. He was a Renaissance 
     Man in the truest sense of the word. When he was taking 
     pictures, he was an artist. When he was acting in films, he 
     was an entertainer. When he fought for Italian American 
     causes, he was a leader. Most importantly, to his family, he 
     was a provider.
       ``His four girls''--he called us. ``Ace and his four 
     queens''--his friends would joke. Through all the years, his 
     love and complete devotion to his family were his most 
     admirable qualities. He lost both of his parents at a very 
     young age. He grew up without the strong bond of a family. 
     Somehow, he instinctively recognized the importance of family 
     and his life became a testament to the limitless boundaries 
     of a man's love for his family. I realize now the priceless 
     gifts he has given me. Not only my appreciation for my 
     culture and heritage, but also for the sanctity of family.
       My father's love for ``his four girls'' was boundless and 
     we knew we'd never want for anything while he watched over 
     us. He regarded his grandchildren as gifts from God, 
     beautiful children able to carry on his legacy long after he 
     left this life. But if it is possible for one man to love 
     someone even more than my father loved any of us, I believe 
     his feelings for his wife would qualify. In ``Paradiso'', 
     Dante described his love for Beatrice as a love that moved 
     the sun and the stars. Ace and Josie had this kind of love. 
     As you all know, he was at times a gruff man. And, he has 
     even been known to raise his voice from time to time in order 
     to make a point. But you should have seen the tenderness he 
     displayed towards Josie in the quiet times. When they were 
     alone, away from the spotlight, away from the 
     responsibilities and the pressures. While fifty-five years is 
     certainly a long time to spend with someone, I'm sure Ace 
     would forego an eternity of Heavenly bliss for one more 
     moment with his beloved Josephine. I hope each of you one day 
     experiences the kind of love we each received for a lifetime 
     from our father.

     And he dreamed,
     and beheld a ladder set up on the earth,
     and the top of it reached to heaven;
     and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.

       I see this ladder going to Heaven. I see my father, not as 
     he has been these past two years, crippled and betrayed by a 
     broken body. I see him as he was while we were all growing 
     up. A man of boundless energy, enthusiasm and exuberance.
       We see him as he rises up that ladder to see what's 
     happening on the other side. I see my father photographing 
     everyone from presidents and heads of state to athletes and 
     entertainers. I see him laughing with his celebrity pals as 
     he gave them a copy of the paper and set up another photo. 
     When he saw an opportunity, he pursued it with uncommon zeal. 
     Rarely did he ever miss a photo he wanted. My sisters and I 
     used to tease him by saying that the only person he hadn't 
     photographed was Jesus Christ. Well . . . by now I'm sure 
     he's snapped Jesus, the Apostles . . . probably the entire 
     Holy Family.
       Now, with our blessings and prayers, may he rest in peace.
       Good night, Daddy. Sleep well.

       

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