[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17022]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING THE LIFE OF THOMAS JOSEPH

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                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 12, 2012

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, during the Christmas Season we remember 
people far and near and reminisce about those who are no longer with 
us. I rise to remember Tom Joseph.
  Of one fact I am sure, Tom Joseph passed from this life a very happy 
man. What a mountain of a human being! What a life force for GOOD! Tom 
was a born leader--for his family, his chosen profession, for our 
community and country. He achieved milestones . . . and he left them 
with us--in his children and loved ones; in the Plumbers & Pipefitters 
Training Center which his vision and zeal inspired and built; in the 
form of Frontpath, a transformative health care institution that exists 
and has helped thousands of citizens obtain more affordable health care 
because he made it possible. He was one-of-a-kind . . . just brimming 
with talent and inventiveness. He gave our community backbone!
  Words that describe Tom Joseph: rare, strong, loving, good, fierce, 
free, solid, fun, wise, loyal. Words that capture his essence: 
ingenious, unselfish, superlative, irrepressible, indefatigable, 
hospitable, hilarious, irreverent, effective, analytical, creative, 
extraordinary.
  Tom Joseph was a leader of laboring men and women. He dedicated his 
life as a builder--of family, of friendships, and enduring institutions 
of community that create a better life for the people of our country. 
It is not inappropriate to say he was a real Democrat--he felt it to 
his core and lived it. It did not come as a surprise to me to read in 
Tom's obituary that he asked donations to be sent to FreeSpeech.org and 
Habitat for Humanity.
  Tom Joseph was Everyman. He lived life large and deeply. His voice 
was booming . . . you always knew when Tom was in the room. He was 
always concerned about others, never missed an opportunity to help 
others in any way he could.
  Yet, his absolute first priority was his family. Terri and Tom's life 
is a love story: they met on a school bus and at 14, she knew she would 
marry him. Together they raised Angela, Heather and Daniel, and 
welcomed grandchildren. Through joy and sorrow Terri and Tom were 
committed to each other, to their children and grandchildren, to 
parents and siblings and friends. What a rare privilege to have shared 
a friendship with this extraordinary man. We are all bettered by our 
association with him. What he gave us will never die. Truly, Tom Joseph 
was a man for others. And that is no small feat.
  Tom Joseph's legacy: what he gave to his family, his union, his 
community and country, immortalizes the words of newspaperman and labor 
activist William Cahn, ``The history of America has been largely 
created by the deeds of its working people and their organizations. Nor 
has this contribution been confined to raising wages and bettering work 
conditions; it has been fundamental to almost every effort to extend 
and strengthen our democracy.''

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