[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 13] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages 19453-19454] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]HONORING JOE RUGGIERO ______ HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL of new york in the house of representatives Thursday, December 19, 2013 Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, Joe Ruggiero, the Chief of the Pelham Manor Fire Department, is a lifelong resident of Pelham whose professional commitment to Pelham as a decorated Firefighter and Chief equals his charitable contributions to the countless number of children and their families he has helped. Joe has dedicated decades using hockey to have a positive impact on community kids. After creating Learn to Play clinics in the Westchester area, he volunteered to coach in Pelham Youth Hockey's in house and travel programs. Joe continues to make significant contributions to Pelham and the tristate area with his volunteer coaching and administrative league duties with the New York Raptors, a unique program that focuses on providing mentally and physically challenged hockey players with the opportunities to play hockey with games and events that had never been offered to them before. Because of his extraordinary contributions, he was recently presented at Madison Square Garden with the prestigious 2013 Emile Francis Award for ``tireless efforts, sacrifices, dedication and service to youth hockey.'' His dedicated commitment for the past 29 years does not stop on the ice as he has been a dedicated member of various charities and altruistic causes and programs such as Ice Hockey in Harlem, Pelham Civic Association's Scholarship committee and as a volunteer with the local Recreation Department. He and his wife Marcia reside in Pelham, with their three children, Jillian, Christopher, and Alexander, who all were educated in the Pelham School system. I congratulate Joe on his being honored by the Pelham Civic Association for his many years and many contributions to the betterment of life in his community. [[Page 19454]] ____________________