Honoring E. William Iovanne, Jr. 2004 Recipient of the Charles Carroll of Carolton Award
HONORING E. WILLIAM IOVANNE, JR., 2004 RECIPIENT OF THE CHARLES CARROLL OF CAR-ÐROLTON AWARD -- (Extensions of Remarks - November 18, 2004)
Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to join family and friends in paying tribute to one of our community's most outstanding citizens and my dear friend, E. William Iovanne, Jr. In recognition of his invaluable contributions to our community, Bill is to be honored with the coveted Charles Carroll of Carrolton Award-the highest honor given to a Catholic layman by the Fourth Degree, Knights of Columbus. Through his generosity and compassion, Bill has touched the lives of thousands and I cannot think of a more deserving individual for such a prestigious honor.
Each year, this medal is presented by the John Barry Assembly, Knights of Columbus, to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the welfare of the church, his or her parish, and the community at large. Throughout his life, Bill has dedicated both his professional and personal time to enriching the lives of others. As a member of the New Haven business community he has earned our respect and as a member of the Wooster Square community he has gained our affection.
Born in New Haven, Connecticut's Fair Haven neighborhood, Bill graduated from Notre Dame High School and pursued a career in the funeral business established by his father. The Iovanne Funeral Home has been a fixture in Wooster Square since 1928. For more than seventy-five years, Bill Iovanne and his family have reached out to families in need, helping them cope with the pain of loss. With a combination of compassion and professionalism, Bill has long been known for making a most difficult period, a bit easier.
Beyond his professional career, Bill is also an active and involved member of our community. Well known for his work with a number of local service organizations, Bill has always demonstrated a unique combination of civic commitment and enthusiastic volunteerism. For anyone who has seen his comic routine pantomiming the late bandleader Louis Prima, which has been lent to numerous fund-raising efforts, his enthusiasm and heart-felt good will is undeniable. The Sacred Heart Academy, St. Michael's Church, the Society of St. Maria Maddalena, the Saint Andrew Apostle Society, Connecticut Hospice, and the Campania Club are just a few of the organizations which have benefitted from Bill's good work. It has been through these efforts that he has made such a difference in the lives of others.
There is one family that I know has been touched by Bill's generosity and spirit: my family. The Iovannes and DeLauros have a long history. For my mother, father, and me, the Iovannes have been trusted friends, steadfast supporters, and always a part of our extended family-the type of people who are always there with a kind word or a helping hand. I cannot thank Bill enough for the special friendship we have shared over the years.
Throughout his life, Bill has embodied the very spirit in which this prestigious award is bestowed. For his innumerable contributions to our community and in recognition of his outstanding generosity to others, I am proud to stand today to join his children: William and his wife Angeline; Richard and his wife Susan; and Beth Ann and her husband Joseph, grandchildren: Christina and Alec, family, friends, and the New Haven community in extending my sincere congratulations to my dear friend, E. William Iovanne, Jr. as he is honored with the Charles Carroll of Carrolton Award. His is a legacy that will continue to touch the lives of others for generations to come.