[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21941]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              REMEMBERING PAT FLECK, SPRING HILL, FLORIDA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GINNY BROWN-WAITE

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 16, 2009

  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Madam Speaker, last Thursday 
evening a spark went out in Hernando County. ``The Mother of Spring 
Hill,'' Pat Fleck, lost her battle with cancer. Known for her genuine 
love of, and devotion to, her community, she was a pioneer for women in 
business, a leader in public service, a mentor, devoted mother, wife 
and friend.
  A long time resident of Spring Hill, in an interview with a local 
paper, she recalled a time when U.S. 19 was only two lanes wide and so 
empty that on trips to a New Port Richey supermarket, she sometimes 
drove on the wrong side of the road because, as she put it, ``for some 
reason it was smoother.''
  She applied that same optimism in every facet of her life: I thought 
of Pat as the unofficial paparazzi of Spring Hill. She would attend 
community events with her camera in hand; snap pictures unbeknownst to 
those around her and a short time later a copy would appear in the 
mail: She was always sure to capture your most flattering side.
  Pat knew when to get down to business as well. It is that business 
sense to which much of her professional successes can be attributed: 
She was the founder of Spring Hill's first independent real estate 
agency, Fleck Real Estate; she later parlayed her knowledge of the 
industry into a real estate school. She was also a founder of the West 
Hernando Chamber of Commerce where she served as its chairwoman.
  She was a community organizer we all could appreciate! She was a long 
time board member of HPH Hospice and an avid supporter of many 
community organizations including Stage West Community Playhouse. Pat 
worked tirelessly to insure that they had the resources they needed in 
order to be successful contributors to the community.
  I am grateful to have known Pat. She had a heart of gold and a 
boundless love for Hernando County. It is so fitting that Hernando 
County shared that same love for her in return.

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