[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 1579]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            IN RECOGNITION OF THE LIFE OF JAMES J. PAVLICIN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DAVID W. JOLLY

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 9, 2016

  Mr. JOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jim Pavlicin, a 
resident of Gulfport, Florida, who passed away on January 7, 2016. 
James Joseph Pavlicin was born and raised in Westbury, New York, the 
son of United States Navy veteran and Nassau County Police Detective 
Michael Thomas Pavlicin and his wife, Margaret Josephine (nee Clay).
  During World War II, Jim's mother sewed three blue stars on her 
Military Service flag, as all three of her sons, members of the 
Greatest Generation, defended our nation overseas. Following his older 
brothers--Mike, who served in the United States Navy, and George, who 
served in the United States Marine Corps--Jim joined the United States 
Army. In the post-war period, he was assigned to the Military Police 
Honor Guard, IX Corps Headquarters, in Sendai, Japan.
  Returning home, he married his beloved wife of sixty years and eight 
months, Mary (nee Horton). Settling on Long Island, New York, Mary and 
Jim raised four children: James (Annie), William (Debra), Jo Ann (Van), 
and Robert (Melissa); had seven grandchildren: Jessica (Sean), Amy 
(Matt), Kellie (Brandon), William, Rachel, Matthew, and Rebecca; and 
five great-grandchildren: Kaelyn, Matthew, Sam, Jacob, and Thomas. A 
sixth great-grandchild, Brandon Jr., will be born this month. He is 
also survived by two sisters, Mary Elliott and Margaret Clark, and 
dozens of nieces and nephews.
  Jim was a proud member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical 
Workers for fifty-five years. He enjoyed gardening, sport aviation, and 
travel, and was a master woodworker. Mary and Jim retired to Gulfport 
in 1998 after four years of living in a recreational vehicle and seeing 
this beautiful country. They belonged to the Gulfport Presbyterian 
Church, and were active and avid volunteers with the Experimental 
Aircraft Association, and the Sun 'n Fun Fly-In & Expo, Florida's 
largest convention. In 2012, Jim and his daughter Jo Ann participated 
in an Honor Flight, along with many other veterans from the Tampa area, 
traveling to Washington to visit the National World War II Memorial 
along the Mall.
  Jim's goal in life was to ``build a better mouse trap''--and most of 
the time, he did. He always had a smile on his face, and was happiest 
when he was with his family, helping others, telling a story, or 
singing. At his funeral, his grandchildren recounted how meaningful it 
was to hear their grandfather say to them, ``Good job. I'm proud of 
you.''
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am privileged 
to honor James J. Pavlicin, whose life and service reflect great credit 
upon himself, his family, and his community. He will be remembered as a 
man who selflessly answered his country's call; as a devoted husband, 
father, grandfather, great-grandfather, son, brother, and uncle; and as 
an important part of Florida's 13th Congressional District. My wife 
Laura and I offer our prayers for his wife, Mary; children, Jim, Bill, 
Jo, and Bob; and the rest of his large, loving family, as we remember 
and honor the life of Jim Pavlicin.

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