[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 6272-6273]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   IN HONOR OF MARTIN AND WENDY MAYER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 8, 2012

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, to watch Parents of the Year, Martin and 
Wendy Mayer is to suggest a concept described by a valet of Britain's 
royal family. ``Working for aristocracy,'' he said, ``is like being a 
swan. On the surface, you must look like you're gliding effortlessly, 
but underneath, you're paddling like crazy.'' The Mayers' chesed for 
our Mamleches Cohanim looks easy, but their earnest sharing and 
resolving the tzoros of others is deliberate and thorough. The catering 
company provides the perfect venue for their unassuming communal 
service as they take care of many food needs for organizations and 
individuals behind the scenes, always seeing the world through the eyes 
of others. Professionally, the sensitivity and attentiveness at 
Menagerie Caterers has earned its reputation as the premier caterer in 
the greater metro area, from the smallest simchas to large, gala 
affairs.
  Midos like this come from hard work. Martin absorbed the essence of 
his East Side neighborhood--no shtick, no embellishments, just pure 
erhlickeit and yashrus. He's the capable friend and reliable confidant 
that everyone needs. As part of East Side's Hatzolah, Martin had the 
zechus of regularly attending to Rav Moshe Feinstein zt''l, imbibing 
from his lofty midos. Martin's own parents, z''l, and their courageous 
strength also deeply affected his life. Joining together from opposite 
sides of concentration camp fences, Staff Sergeant Herman (Hanoch) 
Mayer of the US Army Air Corps won medals and citations as a WWII hero 
who helped liberate the camps. With his own money, he bought medicine, 
food, and blankets for survivors, even transporting one woman to a 
hospital for immediate care. Martin's mother, Mrs. Freida (Elizabeth) 
Mayer survived Auschwitz and Birkenau on less than substandard rations, 
because she gave of her food to her weaker sister who also survived. 
Her intense care for her family continued, as she raised her children 
with unbounded love, often carrying hot lunches to them in school.
  Martin and his sisters' beloved esteem for their parents prompted 
them to establish various memorial tributes: The Bais Medrash of the 
Agudah of Passaic (HaRav Sacks), the Bikur Cholim room of Englewood 
Hospital, which Martin supplies, a Sefer Torah written for them and 
more. Martin's fondest quotes from his Dad pertain to ``if you're going 
to do something, do it right.'' It was unthinkable for Herman Mayer to 
be late for shul.
  For her part, Wendy's gracious warmth keeps the home running smoothly 
despite Martin's erratic catering schedule. Besides working in real 
estate, Wendy tirelessly supports every need for their shul, yeshivos 
or business. Her selflessness moves her to host communal events and 
family simchas, create extraordinary cakes or sew decor for school 
productions, down to every beautiful detail. A caterer's wife might 
well use her husband's resources for large crowds, but Wendy makes 
everything herself. The only thing more inviting

[[Page 6273]]

than her kindness is her fragrant fresh challah. Like her parents, 
Barbara & Nathan Finkel, Wendy's simchas hachaim and winning smile make 
everyone feel welcome.
  Doing for others flows into the next generation as YOT graduating 
talmid, Moshe and YOT alumnus Aryeh are known around town as helping 
hands and smiling big brothers to neighborhood kids. May the honor they 
bestow upon their parents, as well as their support of Ohavei Torah and 
other institutions, be a continual source of brocha and hatzlocha for 
the entire Mayer family.
  I am grateful for the opportunity to join with Yeshiva Ohavei Torah 
in honoring Martin and Wendy Mayer as Parents of the Year.

                          ____________________