[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 18464]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    REMEMBERING FATHER ALLEN NOVOTNY

 Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, on October 27th the Gonzaga 
College High School and Jesuit community lost a leader and dear friend. 
Father Allen Novotny served as the president of the oldest private high 
school in Washington, DC, and led the charge to modernize the school's 
aging facilities. When I moved my family to Washington, DC, I knew that 
under the leadership of Father Novotny, my two sons would receive the 
best education possible at Gonzaga. The school, which is known for its 
motto ``Men for Others'' encourages students to participate in service 
projects throughout DC, the country, and the world. During his 16 years 
at Gonzaga, Father Novotny increased the funding and variety of these 
essential service projects that gave thousands of young men the 
opportunity to grow in their faith and serve those in need.
  Allen Paul Novotny was born in Baltimore in 1952 and received his 
education at the Sacred Heart of Jesus School in Baltimore and then 
Loyola High School in Towson. He entered the Society of Jesus at the 
Novitiate of St. Isaac Jogues in Wernersville, PA, in 1970, and 
received a degree in history from Fordham University in 1975. He then 
went on to teach history at his alma mater Loyola, and by 1989 had 
received three master's degrees in divinity, pastoral counseling, and 
business administration. These credentials along with Father Novotny's 
passion to provide a productive learning environment for the young men 
at Gonzaga resulted in a $30 million campaign to renovate and expand 
the schools aging cafeteria, classrooms, gymnasium, and other 
facilities.
  Along with his tireless efforts to improve the school structurally, 
Father Novotny also ensured the spiritual and educational improvement 
of the student body, parents, and faculty. With his calm demeanor and 
strong faith, he guided the school through times of national tragedy in 
2001 when the September 11 attacks took the lives of family and friends 
in the Gonzaga community and again in 2002 during the Washington DC, 
sniper shootings. He also led the school to great educational and 
athletic triumphs. During his tenure, courses offered for college 
credit at Gonzaga significantly increased and Gonzaga's basketball 
program has consistently been nationally ranked.
  Father Novotny had a very personal connection with his students, 
which I always admired as a parent. He constantly attended the games of 
Gonzaga's various sports teams and participated with the students in 
their service projects. In the weeks since his passing, there has been 
an outpouring of condolences from thousands of former and current 
students, parents, faculty, and friends who have shared their stories 
of the influence that Father Novotny had on their lives. Gonzaga will 
now have to search for a replacement to serve as the school's 
president, but we will never be able to replace in our hearts such a 
great leader, mentor, teacher, and friend. May he rest in 
peace.

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