[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5946]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO MARY RITA TAMAYO

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 6, 2005

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mary Rita Tamayo for 
her service to troubled young people in Sonoma County. Ms. Tamayo 
passed away in July of 2003 at the age of 85. On April 17, 2005, Social 
Advocates for Youth in Sonoma County will announce the new transitional 
housing facility in Santa Rosa--the Tamayo House--to commemorate Mary 
and Jose Tamayo's contributions to the community. The Tamayo House will 
provide 24 young men and women, who are aging out of the foster care 
system, with a place to live.
  Born in 1918 in Kansas to Mexican immigrant parents, Mary was raised 
a devout Catholic. She moved with her husband, Jose, from Nebraska to 
California in 1977 to open a family owned Mexican restaurant. Husband 
and wife co-founded the restaurant La Tortilla Factory Mexicantessan.
  Not only did Mary provide employment opportunities and support youth 
organizations, but she also encouraged teenagers to complete their 
education. Her biggest regret in life was never finishing high school, 
but she made sure her five sons graduated from college.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to honor Mary Tamayo, whose kindness 
and generosity exemplify the best that a person has to offer. Her 
commitment to Sonoma County's youth population is an inspiration to 
immigrant families and to all of us who care about our community. She 
is already missed, but the opening of Tamayo House will keep her memory 
alive for generations to come.

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