[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 9847-9848]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING MARIE SPAK UPON HER RETIREMENT

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. JOE COURTNEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 22, 2016

  Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the distinguished 
service of Marie Spak who will retire after 43 years as office manager 
in the State Attorney's office at the Tolland Judicial District.
  I had the special privilege of witnessing Marie's diligent work for 
many years. First when I was an Assistant Public Defender and later as 
an attorney in private practice. Marie started her work with the 
judicial branch for the State of Connecticut in East Hartford during 
September of 1973. In 1974, she joined the State Attorney's Office, 
where she worked with four different State's Attorneys during her

[[Page 9848]]

tenure. She is finishing her service as the most senior member of 
AFSCME in the Division of Criminal Justice.
  I had the privilege of witnessing her admirable and dedicated efforts 
during these years. Her command of the office operations, getting cases 
ready for court, lining up witnesses, and executing judgments for 
trials, probation, and incarcerations was outstanding. Her ability to 
perform was also shown in Marie never making a single mistake in the 
thousands of files she worked on. I honestly do not remember Marie ever 
making a mistake in the thousands of files she worked on, dealing with 
very sensitive issues such as citizens' property and personal freedom. 
She is extraordinary.
  I also want to express my admiration for the way she handled all of 
the stress, drama, and emotion that were part of the office 
environment, day in and day out. Marie was incredibly ``cool, calm, and 
collected'' in that arena, while at the same time always willing to 
listen and help visitors to the office, if she could. Marie always had 
a sense of humor--there were days when life in the Tolland Judicial 
District felt like a sitcom, with laughs and eye rolls.
  Also, at the same time, Marie balanced family life as a devoted 
daughter, wife, and mother. When I talked with Marie about her family, 
it was clear to me that they appropriately always came first. Now, 
Marie embarks on this new chapter of her life, with the ability to 
spend more, well deserved, time with her family. I would like to thank 
her again for her outstanding service for 43 years and for setting an 
example of diligent, hard work for the public good for our state and 
region.

                          ____________________