[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Pages 14052-14053]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO ALFRED LERNER

  Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to and 
recognize the accomplishments of a great man and a great leader--Alfred 
``Al'' Learner. Mr. Learner passed away on October

[[Page 14053]]

23, 2002, at the age of 69, following a courageous battle against 
cancer. He left behind a lasting legacy of hard work and remarkable 
generosity. Al gave so much of himself. He never hesitated to share his 
good fortune with his fellow citizens, particularly those who were most 
in need.
  Al Learner was a man who not only believed strongly in the American 
dream, he also lived it. He was born the son of Russian immigrants in 
Brooklyn, NY, in 1933. He graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School 
in 1951 and received a B.A. from Columbia College in 1955. After 
college, in the early 1960s, he took a job with the Broyhill Furniture 
Company as a salesman. His work for Broyhill took him from New York to 
Baltimore and ultimately to his home in Cleveland.
  With him on this journey--with him, always by his side--was his best 
friend, his partner, his wife, Norma. Al and Norma were high school 
sweethearts, and they were inseparable. Together they shared 43 years 
of marriage, and together they raised their two children, Randy and 
Nancy. Al and Norma's commitment to each other and their children was a 
strong one. They were both well known for attending every school 
function and every afterschool game their children were involved in, 
setting their professional lives aside to spend time with their family.
  When Al was not spending time with his family, he was working 
tirelessly in his beloved community. Al's numerous professional 
accomplishments included his service as chairman and chief executive 
officer of MBNA Corporation, chairman and owner of the Cleveland 
Browns, and trustee of Columbia University, Case Western Reserve 
University, and New York Presbyterian Hospital.
  I was particularly struck by something Al once noted about his 
success. This is what he said:

       This is the only country in the world [where] that would be 
     possible. The only country in the world for a guy like me 
     with nothing--no background, no sport, no connections, 
     nothing to help me, and no talent. It wasn't that I was a 
     great violin player or a great something. Where a guy like me 
     could just sort of figure it out every day and at some point 
     wake up and say: ``You did pretty good.''

  Indeed, Al Lerner did pretty well. His accomplishments, both in terms 
of his personal success as well as his ability to lend a helping hand 
to his fellow citizens and community members, are clear indications of 
his success and his compassion and, yes, his humanity.
  Al Lerner led by example. He served his country as a Marine Corps 
officer and a pilot from 1955 through 1957 and later continued his 
service by becoming a director of the Marine Corps Law Enforcement 
Foundation.
  His service to our country did not end with his departure from the 
Armed Forces. Al was known in particular for his extremely generous 
contributions to local and national charities, including a contribution 
of $10 million in 1993 to Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital in 
Cleveland, OH, a donation of $16 million to support construction of the 
Lerner Research Institute, and a donation of $100 million to the 
Cleveland Clinic, one of the largest donations to academic medicine in 
the history of our Nation.
  His humility and his dedication to fellow citizens is nowhere better 
evidenced than in the quiet contributions he worked to provide for 
families of victims of the tragic September 11, 2001, terrorist 
attacks.
  He helped raise funds, through his affiliation with the MBNA 
Corporation and the Cleveland Browns, for the Cleveland Browns Hero 
Fund to aid families from the New York City Fire and Police Departments 
who suffered the loss of a parent.
  Al continued his service to the country following the September 11 
attacks by serving as one of 15 members of the President's Foreign 
Intelligence Advisory Board, advising President Bush on the quality and 
adequacy of intelligence collection to improve the security of our 
homeland.
  Al Lerner was an American patriot, a patriot with a purpose and one 
who succeeded remarkably in achieving what he set out to accomplish. By 
embracing the American dream and dedicating himself to sharing with his 
fellow citizens the good fortune that resulted from his pursuit of it, 
Al truly distinguished himself as an outstanding American, and 
certainly one worthy of the respect of the Senate.
  As I think about Al's life, I am reminded of the strong bond he 
shared with his wife Norma. They were such good friends and were really 
partners in life, working side-by-side, together, to raise their family 
and to help their community. I was quite touched at Al's funeral when 
Norma, a very strong and courageous woman, spoke about her life with 
Al. I remember her saying:

       [Al] took us from where we were to beyond where we even 
     would have dreamed we are now. . . . He had an unwavering 
     commitment to helping others and he was the most generous man 
     I've ever known. There was always someone he wanted to help, 
     whether they were sick, financially troubled or just needed a 
     good friend.

  That was Al Lerner.
  I extend my thoughts and prayers to the entire Lerner family--
especially Norma, Randy and Nancy--and to the families, friends, and 
community members who worked with Al and the organizations he 
supported. As Sir Winston Churchill once said:

       We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we 
     give.

  Few men have adhered more closely to this wise adage than Alfred 
Lerner.
  I am very pleased that last week the Senate passed a resolution that 
my friend and colleague from Ohio, Senator George Voinovich, and I 
introduced that recognizes Al Lerner's life, achievements, and 
contributions. This commemorative resolution is the least we can do in 
the Senate, on behalf of the entire Nation, to honor a man who 
dedicated his life to honoring his fellow Americans. I thank Al for all 
his contributions to our State and Nation.
  I thank the Chair and yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. In my capacity as a Senator from Alaska, I 
ask unanimous consent the quorum call be rescinded.
  Without objection, it is so ordered.

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