[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6112]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING THE LIFE OF RICHARD CHOI BERTSCH

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL M. HONDA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 30, 2015

  Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Richard 
Choi Bertsch, who passed away unexpectedly last weekend at the age of 
56.
  Richard was an integral member and leader in the Korean American 
community. His business acumen matched the respect he garnered from his 
peers. He dedicated much of his life to important causes, especially 
the fervent fight on behalf of the so-called ``comfort women''--women 
who were sexually enslaved by the Japanese Imperial Army during the 
World War II.
  Born on August 9, 1958, to his parents, Kenneth and Kyung Bertsch, 
Richard attended elementary school in Seoul, South Korea. In 1973, he 
came to the U.S. with his family, where he grew up in Southern 
California. A graduate of the University of California, Irvine, he 
started multiple electronics business.
  He found his true passion as a civic leader, and he was exceptionally 
skilled in connecting people of diverse backgrounds and communities. 
Richard founded the Korean American Democratic Committee and helped 
found the Korean American Coalition, serving as chairman of its Orange 
County chapter.
  Richard was a selfless individual who cared passionately about 
justice and the civic spirit. To put it simply, he left a deep and 
lasting impact on his family and his many friends from all walks of 
life. When a 2004 South Korean book blamed Jews for the attacks of 
September 11, 2001, Richard joined with Rabbi Abraham Cooper to fight 
its publication. Also, in 2008, when police killed a young artist, 
Richard led the Korean American Advisory Commission to bring the case 
before federal authorities for a civil-rights violation review.
  Just last month, when Los Angeles Times asked about his hopes for the 
future in Washington, he said, if ``The two parties sincerely work[ed] 
together for the betterment of our country, rather than constantly 
[being] locked in ideological gridlock . . . it would give some hope to 
people that politics does matter.'' Each of us in this hallowed chamber 
should take these words to heart.
  My heart was broken when I learned of Richard's untimely passing. 
Yet, I believe it is safe to assume, Richard continues to task each of 
us to continue our service and dedication to the betterment of our 
community, and this nation.
  Richard is survived by his wife Yang-Uk Kim, his sons Sunny and 
Sunoo, and his daughter Summer. Richard's family, friends, and I will 
miss him greatly.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart, I recognize and remember the 
life of Richard Choi Bertsch--a man whom I am honored to have called a 
dear friend.

                          ____________________