[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 18] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages 24265-24266] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]RECOGNITION OF MR. ROBERT S. HEKEMIAN ______ HON. STEVEN R. ROTHMAN of new jersey in the house of representatives Wednesday, November 19, 2008 Mr. ROTHMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Mr. Robert Hekemian, a resident of Saddle River, New Jersey, for his lifetime of dedication to the improvement of the community, and being awarded the Bergen Community College Foundation's 2008 Medallion [[Page 24266]] Award of Merit for Corporate Responsibility and Philanthropy. Mr. Hekemian currently serves as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of both Hekemian & Co., Inc., a real estate investment, management and brokerage company, and First Real Estate Investment Trust of New Jersey. He has been active in the real estate business for more than 6 decades, and is esteemed by his peers. Mr. Hekemian, who is of Armenian descent, is a devoted member of the Armenian Presbyterian Church in Paramus, New Jersey and serves on the Board of the Armenian Missionary Association of America. During the past 50 years, he has contributed substantially to numerous civic and community organizations, as well as domestic and international charitable endeavors, both personally and through the Robert and Mary Jane Hekemian Foundation. Benefactors of the Foundation include The New York Philharmonic, Hackensack University Medical Center, Bergen Community College, Boy Scouts of America and The Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA). Finally, Mr. Hekemian is a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He has been married to his loving wife Mary Jane for 51 years, and they have been blessed with 4 wonderful children and 7 grandchildren. Today, I would like to recognize Robert Hekemian's leadership by example for more than half a century. I am proud that such an honorable man resides in my Congressional District. My constituents' lives are better for all his many and generous contributions to the community. I offer my sincere and hearty congratulations on the occasion of this well-deserved and distinguished award. ____________________