[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 8] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages 11442-11443] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]IN HONOR OF MARIANNE VITTARDI ______ HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH of ohio in the house of representatives Wednesday, June 4, 2008 Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of Marianne [[Page 11443]] Vittardi, as her friends and family gather in celebration of her 80th birthday. Mrs. Vittardi was born in 1928 in Cleveland Ohio to Regina and Jack Zuccola. Marianne's mother and second dad, Ed Krumheuer, raised Marianne, her brother Larry and their beloved sister Carol Jean in Parma on Maplecrest Ave. Marianne is the loving wife of over 50 years to her husband Jerry, devoted mother to her children, Richard, Renee, Gerianne, Marty, Mickey and Ed. Marianne is the grandmother of thirteen and great-grandmother of eleven. She is awaiting the arrival of her twelfth great-grandchild this year and prays for many more in the future. Great Grandma Vittardi and her family hold a very special place in their hearts for baby Jack and baby Blake. Parma would remain the city in which Jerry and Marianne would raise their own family. It is also where they became interested in local government. In 1961, Marianne stood by her husband's side during his successful bid for city council. It was the beginning of a lifetime of civic duty for the Vittardi family. It was also where Marianne's reputation for being hard working, knowledgeable and dependable was gained for organizing political campaigns. Marianne was called upon to be the chairperson of campaigns by Governor Richard Celeste, Senator Howard Metzenbaum, Congressman Ron Mottl, Attorney General Lee Fisher, Parma Mayor Michael Ries and for her son Councilman Martin Vittardi. Marianne served as the President of the Parma Women's Democratic Club, Parma Women's Democratic City Leader and Treasurer of the Parma Democratic Party. Throughout her life, Marianne volunteered on committees for club picnics, dances and steak roasts. Marianne was recognized for her service and volunteerism when she was named 1989's Parma Democratic of the Year. Jerry and Marianne took their family on vacations to Florida, Ruggles Beach, and Washington, DC. Their summers were spent with family and friends at Country Club Camp Grounds. In the 1980s, Jerry and Marianne went on a three-week trip of a lifetime to Italy. Keeping their Italian heritage alive through each new generation, the Vittardis celebrate their Italian heritage on Christmas Eve with a traditional Italian dinner of Marianne's homemade spaghetti sauce and seven courses of fish. Her mother's recipe for German potato salad, a family favorite, has been passed down to each new generation. Jerry and Marianne became Snowbirds traveling to Cape Coral and Fort Myers where they spent fifteen Cleveland winters in the Florida sun. They attended their children and grandchildren's school and sporting events. Marianne was always one of the most spirited cheerleaders in the crowd, whose voice could be heard on Byers Field or on the court! Their shared commitment to family, faith, and community is reflected throughout the Parma community and also within their parish, St. Bridget Church. Madam Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor of my dear friend, Marianne Vittardi. I wish Mrs. Vittardi a joyous birthday and many blessings of peace, health and happiness today and always. ____________________