[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 14777]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING JOSEPH NICOLA DeLAURO

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember and to honor the 
memory of my uncle, Joseph Nicola DeLauro. I spoke on this floor when 
he was honored by the University of Windsor in Ontario, Canada when 
they named him founding director emeritus of the school of visual arts, 
the first such title the university has bestowed. Joe DeLauro died this 
past weekend, and I wanted to take this moment to honor his lifetime of 
creative works, and I recall my earlier words.
  Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Joe DeLauro attended Yale University 
where he received his bachelor's degree, and later gained his master's 
at the University of Iowa. He was a sculptor, perhaps best known for 
his work depicting the archetypal figures from the far past and the 
Bible. Much of his work, including crucifixions, pietas, virgins, 
baptismal fonts, stone reliefs, and stained glass windows had been 
commissioned by churches, convents, schools, and other largely 
religious institutions. However, you can also find many pieces 
throughout the public spaces in his home of Canton, Michigan, and in 
private collections throughout the world.
  Internationally recognized for his talent, he was honored by 
organizations in the United States, England, and Italy. Exhibitions of 
his work have been displayed in New York, Italy, and Canada. But 
perhaps his most important contribution was through his work as a 
teacher. I have often spoke of the need of talented, creative educators 
ready to help young people learn and grow. This is especially true for 
the fine arts, where the talent of young artists must be nurtured and 
encouraged for them to realize their dreams.
  A professor of art at both Marygrove College and the University of 
Detroit in Detroit, Michigan, Joe DeLauro spent the majority of his 
career as an educator at the University of Windsor. He came to the 
university in 1960, where he began Windsor's fine arts department. 
Through his efforts as head of the department, he gained for the 
institution its right to grant a bachelor of fine arts degree, the 
first degree-granting privilege of its kind to be granted to an Ontario 
university. For this accomplishment, he was credited with the founding 
of Windsor's school of visual arts. In his 20-year career with the 
University of Ontario, he helped to shepherd hundreds of students 
through the demanding maze of discipline, taste, and scholarship, and 
off to their own careers. Mentor, friend, and educator, there was no 
better example of what a teacher should be.
  To be bestowed with the title Founding Director Emeritus was a 
reflection of the respect, gratitude, and appreciation Joe DeLauro 
earned throughout his career at the University of Windsor. His 
extraordinary artistic and academic career leaves an indelible mark on 
the university, and his spirit will forever live on through the school 
of visual arts, a legacy that will touch and inspire thousands for 
generations to come. I join with the entire family of Joseph Nicola 
DeLauro in their sadness and in their joyful remembrance of a unique 
person.
  Honored in his time and ours, I offer these comments on the floor of 
the House of Representatives as part of the eternal record of this good 
man.

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