[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5700]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING THE LIFE OF MARIE HERBST, EXTRAORDINARY PUBLIC SERVANT, 
                 TEACHER, MOTHER, FRIEND, AND NEIGHBOR

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. JOE COURTNEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 28, 2015

  Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my condolences to 
the family of Marie Herbst upon her passing on April 23, 2015. Mr. 
Speaker, it is hard to describe the range of accomplishments Marie 
achieved during her amazing life. A wife of 63 years, a mother of 5, a 
schoolteacher for 37 years, and on top of that a record of public 
service at the state and local level that spanned decades.
  As one of the most dedicated citizens of Vernon, Marie stood as an 
activist for her town's needs in the area of education. This commitment 
to the Vernon community was not limited to activism, as Marie saw the 
need to serve her constituents locally and ensure that her neighbors' 
voices were heard.
  Marie was elected to the Board of Education, Town Council, as Mayor 
of Vernon and served for over eight years as a State Senator 
representing her friends and neighbors in Hartford. She demonstrated 
further dedication to her fellow citizens after she left the 
Connecticut General Assembly to resume her position on the Town 
Council.
  During that time, Marie focused on her most abiding passion: the 
welfare of the Town of Vernon. During her tenure, the town saw new 
schools, fire stations, police headquarters, roads and bridges. Never 
one to duck controversy, she nonetheless had an extraordinary record of 
political success due in large part to her integrity and honesty. In a 
word, people trusted Marie, even if they did not always agree with her.
  At the end of the day we can all look back on her life and marvel at 
her energy and passion for helping others through her service in public 
office. At the same time, she never shortchanged her husband Paul, her 
children Paul, Debra, Kate, Laura and Janet or the students that she 
taught in the East Windsor school system. She set a high bar of 
excellence that all citizens and public officials should strive to 
match.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering Marie's life and 
expressing our deepest sympathies to Paul and to the Herbst family.

                          ____________________