[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 4714-4715]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING MARIO CANZONERI

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. VITO FOSSELLA

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 1, 2008

  Mr. FOSSELLA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and 
accomplishments of Mario Canzoneri, who died on Saturday, January 19, 
2008, following heart surgery. Mario and his wife Karen have been true 
and constant supporters of the community of 9/11 victims and their 
families. They have shared their therapy dogs--the Smile Retrievers--
Jake, Jessie, Mattie, and Macie, with the entire community.
  Immediately after the tragic attacks, Mario brought his therapy dogs 
to New York to help the families of the victims. Selflessly, and always 
at their own expense, Mario and Karen ministered to 9/11 families. They 
also traveled to Oklahoma City, to the TAPS program in Washington, to 
the campus of Virginia Tech, and to many other places where people were 
in pain from brutal losses.
  Mario was extremely active in the community, attending every forum 
sponsored by Voices of September 11th and has accompanied the Pentagon 
families during their remembrance walks. I have heard many stories of 
young children cuddling up to the dogs and finding a way to deal with 
their grief on the anniversary of the attacks.

[[Page 4715]]

  Mario proved that each of us holds the power to change the lives of 
many for the better. Although Mario's own life was cut short, his was a 
life lived to the fullest--a life that impacted others in a way few of 
us ever achieve. With purpose and resolve, Mario Canzoneri used his 
time on God's earth wisely and for the betterment of those around him.
  In closing, Madam Speaker, I would like to extend my personal 
condolences to the Canzoneri family. Mario was a great man with a kind 
heart, and we are all in his debt.

                          ____________________