[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12499]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        THE PASSING OF PAT TOBIN, FOUNDER OF TOBIN & ASSOCIATES

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DIANE E. WATSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 12, 2008

  Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, it was with great sorrow that I learned of 
the loss of my dear friend, Pat Tobin.
  Pat was the Founder and CEO of Tobin and Associates, one of the most 
prominent minority, female-owned public relations firms whose clientele 
included celebrities, entertainment companies, non-profit/political 
organizations and national/international corporations.
  Pat was more than an astute business woman, she was a ``people 
person.'' She always had a big, beautiful smile that graced her face at 
all times. She was the epitome of ``grace under pressure.''
  Pat was a mover and shaker in the public relations industry. She was 
a founder of the National Black Public Relations Society and a 
committed member of the National Association of Black Journalists.
  She was a dedicated activist for causes that impacted minorities, 
women and youth and she secured financial support from corporations and 
philanthropic organizations for a variety of important initiatives. She 
was selfless and dedicated in everything she did. She was regarded as a 
standard bearer for public relations professionals of all races due to 
her innovative, hard working and compassionate nature.
  One of her NABJ colleagues wrote the following poem about Pat:

     I will not mourn Pat Tobin.
     I will not be sad.
     I will not let her passing depress me.
     Instead I will continue to use the model she shared for 
           life's personal journey.
     I will take the attitude that personal and professional 
           setbacks are an opportunity to make one-self stronger.
     I will look at seemingly insurmountable road-blocks as 
           mental, emotional and sometimes physical challenges as 
           opportunities to become a force to be reckoned with.
     I will choose to be what she believed all of us are capable 
           of.

  I extend my most heartfelt condolences to Pat's family, her 
colleagues, her many close friends in Los Angeles and around the 
country. She will be sorely missed.

                          ____________________