[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17345]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


             IN HONOR OF THE 95TH BIRTHDAY OF FRANK WEINMAN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. NANCY PELOSI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, July 9, 2009

  Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a great 
American, Frank Weinman, on the occasion of his 95th birthday.
  Born in 1914 in Vienna, Austria, Frank has overcome great hardships 
and adversity on life's path, escaping the terror of Hitler's Europe to 
settle with his family in the United States.
  Working in his father's paint factory in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia, 
Frank fell in love with his future wife, Teri, a Hungarian citizen. 
When the Germans occupied Austria, Frank was left stateless, because, 
as a Jew, he could not return to Vienna, and was forced to flee to 
Prague. In Prague, Frank assisted Jews immigrating illegally to 
Palestine, undoubtedly saving many lives.
  On the run from the Nazis, Frank and Teri were secretly married on 
October 25, 1939 in Prague. Separated often over the next 18 months, 
Frank received word that his brother Charles, who had emigrated to 
America, had procured visas for them, and Frank made a daring journey 
by foot over mountainous terrain to Hungary, where Teri was staying 
with her family. While waiting for exit visas in Kosice, Hungary, Frank 
and Teri were arrested and sent to Hungarian concentration camps, 
before being released due to their American visas.
  Forced to leave behind family, Frank and Teri made a harrowing 
journey across Austria and Germany to Spain, where they found passage 
across the Atlantic on a small Spanish ship. They arrived to the New 
World, free from the fear and oppression they had narrowly escaped, on 
October 12, 1941, Columbus Day.
  Frank and Teri lived together until Teri's passing in 1975, having 
raised a family of two daughters in Illinois. Frank married Frances Alt 
in 1977, and they moved to the Great State of California in 1988.
  Though Frances has since passed away, Frank Weinman celebrates his 
95th birthday in Walnut Creek, California today with daughters Francie 
and Linda, and their husbands, Stuart and Alex, along with four loving 
grandchildren.
  He is also blessed to have a devoted stepdaughter, Judy, and her 
husband Maynard, and stepson George and his wife Maureen. Thanks to 
them, Frank has three more adoring grandchildren and six great-
grandchildren.
  Frank's story is an inspiration to us all, and we are reminded of the 
importance of family, perseverance, and faith. I encourage all Members 
of Congress to join me in wishing Frank a happy birthday, and may he 
celebrate many more.

                          ____________________