[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18863]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


      CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF RICHARD GOLDMAN

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                           HON. NANCY PELOSI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 2, 2010

  Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life and the 
accomplishments of Richard Goldman, a great American and a dear friend. 
The passing of Richard Goldman, an accomplished businessman, noted 
philanthropist and powerful advocate for environmental justice, will be 
felt throughout the world in the hearts of all who work to preserve the 
planet, protect women's rights, and strengthen the Jewish community.
  Richard Goldman's story cannot be told without beginning with his 
life's love, Rhoda. As young children, they lived down the street from 
each other; in 1946 they were reunited at a friend's wedding, and were 
married within the year. Together they were inseparable until Rhoda's 
passing in 1996.
  As two of the Nation's most noted philanthropists, Richard and Rhoda 
established their family foundation in 1951. In the decades since, it 
has given away more than half a billion dollars in support to 
charitable causes. As patrons of the arts and culture, Jewish community 
and the environment, their impact has been felt nationally and around 
the world. In San Francisco, their impact can be seen from the new 
headquarters for the Family Violence Prevention Fund in the Presidio to 
the Conservatory of Flowers and the Lands End Trails Forever project at 
the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
  Their commitment to the pursuit of knowledge is enshrined at the 
Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley. Their compassion for 
the suffering is self-evident in the $1 million gift to 14 HIV and AIDS 
organizations on the 25th anniversary of this devastating disease. And 
their work supporting the state of Israel and fighting anti-Semitism 
has made the world a better and safer place.
  The Goldmans' commitment to the air we breathe, the water we drink 
and the land that we share is among their greatest accomplishments. 
Their work has protected threatened habitats, reduced harmful impacts 
on the environment and restored California's pristine forests, coasts 
and wilderness. In 1990, Richard and Rhoda founded the Goldman 
Environmental Prize, nicknamed the ``Green Nobel Prize,'' which is 
awarded annually to grassroots environmental heroes from each of the 
world's six inhabited continents and is the largest award of its kind.
  Richard Goldman's reputation for success and philanthropy is well 
known. Those who know him well have enjoyed is his wonderful 
personality. His love of his children John, Doug and Susan and his 
beloved late Richard; and his glowing pride in his grandchildren gave a 
twinkle to his eye.
  His pride in San Francisco, its people, its arts and its sports--go 
Giants--were part of who he was. Richard Goldman was a great patriot 
who loved our country--the diversity of its people, the beauty of its 
natural resources and the freedoms we all enjoy. He served our country 
in uniform in his youth and every day since.
  I hope it is a comfort to his children John and his wife Marcia, 
Douglas and his wife Lisa, and Susan and husband Michael Gelman, his 
eleven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren that so many people 
mourn his loss. Thankfully this next generation stands ready to ensure 
Richard and Rhoda's legacy of compassion, pursuing peace and protecting 
our planet goes forward.

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