[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14179]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      IN HONOR OF N. MICHAEL RUCKA

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 8, 2014

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor N. Michael Rucka, an 
important community leader whose entrepreneurial spirit, tenacity, and 
ethical standards enriched the lives of his family, law partners, 
friends, and clients. Mike was a dear friend and wonderful mentor. He 
was the very essence of life, compassion, generosity, and curiosity. 
World affairs and domestic politics were always on Mike's mind and he 
was never shy about sharing his thoughts with me. Mike passed away on 
July 28, 2014, after struggling with cancer. His passing has left a 
huge empty space in those of us who knew and loved him. But what we 
will remember the most is the way he enriched so many lives and made 
the Monterey Bay Area, and indeed the world, a better place.
   Mike was born on October 3, 1939 in Brooklyn, New York. His parents, 
Nettie and Arthur, soon moved to Los Angeles and then settled in San 
Francisco. Mike graduated from Lowell High School before attending the 
University of California, Berkeley. Following his graduation from UC 
Berkeley and the University of San Francisco School of Law, Michael 
relocated to the Monterey Peninsula in the 1970s. There, he worked 
ambitiously alongside his friends Emmet O'Boyle, Alfred Lombardo, and 
J. Andrew McKenna to develop the Rucka, O'Boyle, Lombardo, and McKenna 
Law Firm in Salinas, California.
   Mike devoted every day to representing injured parties in matters of 
workers compensation and Social Security disability. Mike won the 
Granado Case before the California Supreme Court, thus establishing the 
rule that temporary disability and medical treatment are not subject to 
apportionment. Thanks to his work, this rule has benefited all injured 
workers since.
   Michael co-founded and acted as one-time National Chair of the 
Workplace Injury Law & Advocacy Group. He also served as the President 
of the California Applicant's Attorneys Association from 1975 to 1976. 
In 1993, Mike received the Eugene Marias Lifetime Achievement Award.
   Mike was uniquely respected both in this community, throughout 
California, and by his peers throughout the country. In a small block 
of marble in his office is a short handled hoe, presented to Michael in 
honor of his instrumental work and help in getting the back-breaking 
short handled hoe banned from the agricultural fields of California. He 
donated his time, resources and energy to organizations that are 
committed to advancing the rights of injured workers and others who 
need a voice.
   Mr. Speaker, I know I speak for the whole House in honoring Mike's 
lifetime of achievement and in extending our heartfelt condolences to 
his friends, and family members, including his wife Corry, daughter 
Brandy, sons Greg and Nick, and his grandchildren.

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