[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 4705-4706]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                         TRIBUTE TO MARY ROMANO

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BILL PASCRELL, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 5, 2000

  Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to call to your attention the 
deeds of a remarkable woman from my district, Mary Romano of Maplewood, 
New Jersey, who was feted on Sunday, April 2, 2000 at Cryan's Beef & 
Ale in South Orange, New Jersey to mark her retirement as Maplewood 
Democratic Chair. Due to her many years of service and leadership, it 
is only fitting that we gather here in her honor, for she epitomizes a 
strong spirit of caring and generosity.
  Born in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, Mary is one of four children of 
the late Sarah and John Melillo who came to the United States from the 
Province of Avellino, Italy. When she

[[Page 4706]]

was five years old, her parents moved from Pennsylvania to the 
Roseville section of Newark, New Jersey. She was educated in the Newark 
School system and graduated from Central Technical and Commercial High 
School.
  Mary continually touches the lives of the people around her. She is 
an active member of many organizations including, Maplewood Seniors, 
St. Joseph Rainbow Seniors, Maplewood Service League and Maplewood 
Women's Club. In addition to her duties as municipal Democratic Chair 
she has held numerous other leadership positions including, Treasurer 
of Immaculate Heart of Mary Rosary Altar Society, Vice President of the 
Ladies Auxiliary of the South Orange BPOE 1154 and Executive Board 
Member of the John J. Giblin Association. She is currently the 
corresponding secretary of the Giblin Association. She retired in 1987 
from the Essex County Office of Public Information, where she was 
Secretary to the Director.
  Known for a questioning mind and an ability to get things done, Mary 
has devoted much time and energy to numerous Democratic organizations. 
Her many duties include, Vice Chair and Current Chair of the Maplewood 
County Committee, Delegate to the New Jersey Democratic Convention in 
1983, Co-Chair of volunteers in Northeast New Jersey for Jim Florio's 
1990 Gubernatorial campaign, and a volunteer for the National Governors 
Association 84th Annual Meeting in Princeton, New Jersey.
  As an involved resident of Maplewood, she is always ready to 
participate in activities and contribute to the public good. Numerous 
groups including, the John J. Giblin Association, the American Heart 
Association, the American Cancer Society and the Maplewood Senior Club 
II have honored her. The latter group named her Senior of the Year.
  Mary has been married since 1946 to Nicholas F. Romano, who is 
retired from the Newark Board of Education. She has lived in Maplewood 
since 1961. Her two children are Nicholas Francis Romano, Jr. and Mary 
Michele Fox. She has three grandchildren, Christina Marie Romano, 
Joseph Timothy Fox and the twins Jessica Lynn Romano and Anthony 
Romano.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join our colleagues, Mary's family, 
friends, the Democratic Party, the Township of Maplewood, the State of 
New Jersey and me in recognizing the outstanding and invaluable service 
to the community of Mary Romano.

                          ____________________