[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15476]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        REMEMBERING AND HONORING THE LIFE OF BRIAN A. PETRONELLA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOE COURTNEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 10, 2010

  Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, It is with a heavy heart that I rise to 
mark the passing of a great ally and advocate for working families in 
Connecticut. Brian Petronella, President of The United Food and 
Commercial Workers Local 371 in Westport, died suddenly on Friday. He 
leaves behind a remarkable record of public service and long list of 
victories on behalf of workers and their families.
  Brian was a skilled labor leader who never forgot his beginnings as a 
member of 371. He believed in decent wages, benefits, safety, and 
respect for his brothers and sisters and cared deeply about their 
rights. In his role at Local 371 and in his own life, Brian put these 
values into practice each day. He held leadership roles on the local 
and international levels of UFCW and had many successful organizing 
campaigns under his belt.
  In addition to Brian's professional role and successes, he was a 
vibrant member of the community--one that worked tirelessly to help 
those around him. He generously raised money for and gave his time to 
the Leukemia Society, the Women's Network, and after school programs in 
the area.
  Most important to him though was his family. His father was also a 
nationally recognized leader at UFCW, and Brian's success was a source 
of great pride in the Petronella family. Brian's wife Elaine and 
daughters Lindsey and Ashley were the number one priority in his world 
and his passing as a husband and father is the hardest loss of all.
  I had the pleasure and honor to know Brian for over ten years. He was 
smart, funny, and down to earth. His success did not go to his head--if 
anything it made him more committed to working for the people he 
represented so ably.
  Brian left us too early. He leaves behind a life of work that should 
be the envy of anyone seeking to better our society. He was a 
consummate professional, loving family man, and friend that I was lucky 
to have. I ask my colleagues to join me in mourning the loss and 
honoring the life of Brian Petronella.

                          ____________________