[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17024]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING THE LIFE OF DORIS BEACH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 12, 2012

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Doris L. Beach, who 
passed from this life on November 13, 2012 at age 74. Doris was a true 
humanitarian and gave of herself fully. For more than forty years, 
Doris Beach was the face of Green Thumb, now known as Experience Works 
Inc. linking capable older adults with employment. A tireless advocate 
in pursuit of job opportunities for older adults, that service was her 
passion.
  One of six children, Doris Beach graduated from high school in 
Pittsburgh. She briefly worked in a hospital and broadcasting, but soon 
found her calling as she set out to make Toledo's Green Thumb the best 
senior employment service. She sought out employers, when necessary 
taught them the value of hiring older workers, and matched older 
workers to the jobs. Explained her longtime colleague Billie Johnson, 
president of the Area Office on Aging of Northwest Ohio, ``She was so 
out-of-the box and didn't think in traditional terms of how to find 
employers who would hire retirees. She went above and beyond and knew 
how to help a retiree package a skill set.'' Doris knew the work ethic 
of older adults, understood their needs and guided them toward their 
potential. She was an inspiration to all who knew her, an amazing 
woman. We knew her for her ``ready smile, a raspy voice, compassion and 
an air of authority'' and she was endeared to us all.
  In addition to her life's work, Doris Beach gave to her church, St. 
Martin de Porres Catholic Church, and her family was most important. 
She was a well-loved sister and aunt. We share her family's sorrow at 
her passing, and hope they find comfort in the gift that was her 
remarkable life. Through Doris' life-giving counsel and street smarts 
borne of struggle, her persevering work bettered the lives of thousands 
of older Americans and gave them added meaning and purpose. Our 
community remains indebted always to the ethic of service to others her 
life embodies.

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