[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 23334-23335]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO JOHN NOXAKIS

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. THADDEUS G. McCOTTER

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Saturday, August 4, 2007

  Mr. McCOTTER. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor and acknowledge 
the distinguished life of John Noxakis, who entered God's eternal 
paradise far too soon for those of us he leaves behind in this 
ephemeral veil of tears.
  A life-long Detroiter proud of his ethnic heritage, John embodied the 
Greek's love of food and music. He was a gifted culinary artist, whose 
dishes delighted and sated diners throughout our community; and, in his 
purest gift, he was an unparalleled percussionist. It was through 
John's drumming my brother and I met him. We three formed the nucleus 
of the little acclaimed and over amplified band, ``The Flying 
Squirrels''; and, cramped together on the ``cover band'' roller 
coaster, off and on we jammed our way through nearly 20 years of small 
gigs and smaller paychecks. Through it all, John was the one person in 
the band whose gentility and sanity kept an often tempestuous 
combination of musical prima donnas kicking out the jams, instead of 
killing each other. He was true to this task until his tragic and 
unexpected death; and it has taken some time--is still taking time, may 
forever take time--for me to realize I will never see him ascend his 
set, hear his beat, and know my brother from another mother is right in 
time with every thought seeping through my strings.

[[Page 23335]]

  Yes, in a world where too many crave at all costs to be ``great,'' 
John cared enough to be good. He was a loving brother to Michael and 
Katina; a devoted uncle to Christine, Sophia and Maria; and a true 
friend to all he encountered. John, may you forever rest in God's 
infinite love until, one day, the rest of us Flying Squirrels sneak our 
way into Heaven's basement to disturb your peace for a moment and 
``Kick out the Jams.''
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in mourning John 
Noxakis' passing; extend our deepest sorrow to all he loved and all who 
loved him; and commemorate his lifetime of bringing joy to his fellow 
human beings.

                          ____________________