[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 15658-15659]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           TRIBUTE TO CATHERINE McDERMOTT SMITH OF SHARON, CT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. NANCY L. JOHNSON

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 19, 2003

  Mrs. JOHNSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute 
to the life and memory of Catherine McDermott Smith, of Sharon, 
Connecticut. Catherine was a dedicated citizen and leader in the Sharon 
community. Her untimely death is an enormous loss to her family and to 
our entire community.
  Catherine Smith and her five-year-old youngest son John Forrester 
Smith died from injuries sustained in an automobile crash late last 
summer. They were en route to their home in Connecticut after dropping 
off her oldest son for freshman orientation at the University of 
Virginia. Mrs. Smith is survived by her husband Frank Smith, daughters 
Mary and Katherine and son Tony all of Sharon, Connecticut; her parents 
Mary and Anthony McDermott of Glen Cove, New York; six brothers, many 
nieces and nephews. In addition, she is survived by a multitude of 
friends and associates garnered through the years from her ``people 
oriented love,'' politics.
  A native of Oyster Bay, New York, Cathy graduated from Hofstra 
University and New

[[Page 15659]]

York University. She became involved in politics as a child and 
eventually ran many campaigns and fundraising events. This prompted a 
move to the Washington area where she started an extremely effective 
direct mail solicitation company. Her appointments to various state 
boards and commissions have been numerous. She worked as speech writer, 
communications director, and chief of staff to numerous national office 
holders. Having long enjoyed Connecticut's lovely northwest corner as a 
family vacation spot, she and her family moved there just over 2 years 
ago. Already she was an active member of the community.
  Catherine Smith was an outgoing, articulate, competitive person that 
demanded much more of herself than of others. She was most capable of 
analyzing a problem, finding the solution, and then doggedly pursuing 
the correction until conquered. While firm, she was compassionate and 
obliging; along with her trade mark of a smile, twinkle and a laugh, 
she was able to unselfishly motivate the people she loved and 
befriended.
  Mr. Speaker it is with sadness that we remember the life and memory 
of Catherine and her son, Jack. As family and friends mourn their 
passing, I would like to recognize the wonderful life Cathy lived. She 
will be missed.

                          ____________________