[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 16250-16251]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO DONALD D. WACKS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ELLEN O. TAUSCHER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 4, 2002

  Mrs. TAUSCHER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a very special 
citizen in my district. Donald D. Wacks has provided northern 
California with nearly three decades of distinguished service to its 
students, parents, staff, and community as a progressive and exemplary 
elementary school principal. Don Wacks worked tirelessly for the 
improvement of student achievement, expanded professional staff 
development, and encouraged the involvement of parents and community in 
the critical mission of the education of our children. In this 
endeavor, I say that Don Wacks is one of America's quiet heroes.
  Don Wacks was born in Passaic, New Jersey on August 20, 1927 of 
second generation American parents, Samuel & Lena Wacks. Don Wacks has 
a sister Janice and a brother Gerald (deceased). Don Wacks moved from 
the East Coast to San Francisco where he attended Lowell High School 
and graduated with honors. He achieved honor roll status every semester 
of high school, received the California Scholarship Federation Award, 
and was a distinguished member of the debating society where he 
acquired skills and experience that have helped him throughout his 
life.
  Don Wacks proudly served our country in the United States Military 
for much of his adult life. As an Army officer, he was stationed in 
Japan at the conclusion of WW II and continued to serve in the Army 
Reserve in the Civil Affairs unit of the 351st division of the Sixth 
Army, where he graduated from Command in General Staff School. He 
retired from the Army as a Lieutenant Colonel.
  Don Wacks attended the University of California at Berkeley, earning 
both Bachelors and Masters degrees in Economics, and Credentials in 
Teaching and Administrative Education. He was a member of the Sigma 
Alpha Mu Fraternity, qualified for Phi Beta Kappa, and the Phi Delta 
Kappa in the National Education Honor Society.
  After working as a student teacher in Orinda, California, Don Wacks 
then moved to the Newark Unified School District where he began his 
career as a Vice Principal from 1957 to 1959. He was a Teaching 
Principal at Schilling Elementary from 1959 to 1962, Principal at Snow 
Elementary from 1962 to 1979, and Principal at Milani Elementary in 
1979, until his retirement in 1985.
  Don Wacks is a person of strong values and convictions, which he 
believes, are best shared with others and practiced every day. As a 
child, he made a promise to himself to visit all of the world's 
continents and experience as much as he could during his life. Don 
Wacks kept the promise made that day, experienced 86 countries, and 
with a visit to Antarctica in early 2001, walked on all the world's 
continents. Much of his motivation for travel is to learn about the 
ethnic and cultural backgrounds of the peoples of the world and to 
spread peace and understanding through individual contact.
  Don Wacks has always delighted in sharing his gifts and resources 
with people who are in less fortunate circumstances. He supports many 
causes and charities and is a member of numerous community 
organizations, programs, and fundraisers where he uses his life 
experience, travels, and compassion to improve the community wherever 
possible. Of great personal significance is his work as a volunteer 
grief counselor at the Widows and Widower's Network Center in Walnut 
Creek. He facilitates regular grief counseling groups and works 
regularly on their crisis line. He is a dedicated champion of 
environmental causes and considered himself an environmentalist long 
before it was popular.

[[Page 16251]]

  Don Wacks feels especially proud of his daughter Marilyn, his son 
Ron, and his granddaughter Alyssea who embody many of his convictions, 
most especially being life-long learners and contributors to their 
communities.
  I ask you to consider the quiet heroes like Don Wacks and the many 
thousands like him deserving of our respect and gratitude for making 
this country great. After all, where would we be without America's many 
quiet heroes?

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