[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 9983-9984]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING BARBARA KELLEHER FITZGERALD

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 11, 2014

  Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the service and 
dedication of Mrs. Barbara Kelleher Fitzgerald, who is being honored as 
an integral part of the community at the 6th Annual Mount Mercy Academy 
5K in Buffalo, New York.
  Barbara is a Mount Mercy alumna from the class of 1978, and has since 
been completely committed to several volunteer event committees at 
Mount Mercy Academy and has served on the Mount Mercy Academy Alumnae 
Board.
  As a teacher for over 30 years she has touched the lives of many. She 
began her career at St. Thomas Aquinas school. For the past 22 years 
she has worked as a Pre-K and Kindergarten teacher at Hamlin Park 
School #74. The dedication she shows to the children she serves is 
unmatched.
  Among her many community action roles, Barbara has been the president 
of the Mercy League of Mercy Hospital, the St. Thomas Aquinas Home 
School Association, Bishop Timon St. Jude Parent Guild, Mount Mercy 
Academy Parent Guild, and continues to be an active member of the Notre 
Dame Academy Parent Guild and Sports Committee. Barbara has volunteered 
as a coach for St. Thomas Aquinas and Notre Dame Academy as well as the 
South Buffalo Soccer Association.
  In addition to these great works, Barbara is a founding member of the 
Women's Conclave, a discussion group in the local community designed to 
empower women to handle their unique challenges of life.
  Amid her involvement in these influential leadership positions, 
Barbara identifies her children as her greatest accomplishment. Their 
family--Barbara, Barry, Barry Jr., Kevin, and Mary Kate--resides in 
South Buffalo. Barb credits her commitment to community service to the 
example set by her parents,

[[Page 9984]]

Patrick and Barb Massett Kelleher and her late aunt Sister Mary 
Annunciata Kelleher.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank you for allowing me a few moments to recognize 
the incredible legacy of Barbara Kelleher Fitzgerald. I am inspired by 
her boundless capacity to give of herself to the community and to her 
family. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Mrs. Kelleher 
Fitzgerald for her years of service to the Western New York community 
and wishing her and her family the best in all of their future 
endeavors.

                          ____________________