[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16485]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING BROTHER JOHN G. DRISCOLL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. NITA M. LOWEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 23, 2010

  Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to Brother 
John G. Driscoll who passed away on September 21, 2010. Brother 
Driscoll served as the sixth president of his undergraduate alma mater, 
Iona College in New Rochelle, NY, from 1971 to 1995, where he also was 
a mathematics professor.
  A New York City native and long-time member of the Congregation of 
Christian Brothers, Brother Driscoll earned a PhD in theoretical 
mathematics from Columbia University. He taught at all educational 
levels, including elementary and secondary schools in Manhattan and the 
West Indies, and colleges and universities in four states. In his 
nearly quarter century as Iona College's top administrator, Brother 
Driscoll left an impressive legacy in many academic and student life 
areas. He was inducted into Iona's Hall of Fame in 1994 for his 
significant contributions in enhancing lona's athletic department, 
including expanding women's athletics, developing athletic scholarships 
in almost all sports and raising the competitive standing of lona's 
teams. Because of his active leadership and involvement in a wide range 
of educational, civic and religious organizations, he also made a 
lasting mark throughout the broader community of New Rochelle, 
Westchester County and New York State.
  After leaving Iona, Brother Driscoll combined his commitment to 
lifelong learning and teaching with his passion for Jewish-Catholic 
studies. In February 1989, Brother Driscoll was appointed director of 
the Bat Kol Institute in Jerusalem, Israel. From 1995 until recently, 
he served as a Scholar in Residence at Hebrew University in Israel, and 
presented lectures on biblical studies taught through the Jewish 
traditions to Christian seminary groups and in religious education 
study centers in the US, India, South Africa, Italy, Zambia, Canada, 
the Philippines and Australia, among others. His seriousness of purpose 
in fostering ecumenism was enhanced by his infectious Irish wit and 
wisdom, earning him well-deserved international respect and admiration. 
Among the many tributes were honorary doctorate degrees from the 
National University of Ireland, Galway; Pace University; St. Thomas 
Aquinas College; and the College of New Rochelle. But perhaps one 
unusual honor--the endowment of the Brother John G. Driscoll 
Professorship in Jewish-Catholic studies at Iona College--best captures 
this remarkable man's lifelong work. Its mission statement reads: ``The 
Professorship takes Brother Driscoll's hopes as its own: that ancient 
truths will be revered, that hidden truths will be revealed and that 
new ways will be found to touch the human heart.''

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