The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“HONORING JOSEPH R. O'BRIEN” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Transportation was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E164 on Feb. 8, 2018.
The Department handles nearly all infrastructure crisscrossing the country. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, said the Department should be privatized to save money, reduce congestion and spur innovation.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING JOSEPH R. O'BRIEN
______
HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL
of new york
in the house of representatives
Thursday, February 8, 2018
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I today say goodbye to a dear friend, Joseph R. ``Joe'' O'Brien, who passed away on February 7th, 2018 at the age of 79. Joe served as my Director of Public Affairs for many years, and in that time, I came to know him as a warm, caring human being with a razor-sharp wit and tremendous sense of humor. I am going to miss him dearly.
A longtime resident of the Bronx, Joe was a newsman who later served as Deputy Press Secretary to Mayor Edward Koch from 1979 to 1985. For the next 11 years, he continued directing public relations for city and state government with the Special Services for Children agency of the Human Resources Administration, the city Department of Transportation, and the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority. He also served as Deputy Press Secretary for Yonkers Mayor Terrance Zaleski for two years before joining my office in May of 1996, where he worked until his retirement in 2013. Later he joined Bronx Community Board 8, where he served until September 2017.
Born May 26, 1938, Joe was the youngest of four children of Irish immigrants, Thomas and Margaret O'Brien (nee Coffey), and grew up in the Inwood section of upper Manhattan. He served in the Army Reserve and graduated from New York University in 1966. He worked for several newspapers in New Jersey and upstate New York. In 1967, he joined the United Press International wire service in New York as a reporter on the Local desk, and then as an editor on the International and General desks. Joe married New York Daily News reporter Cass Vanzi in 1975. The couple had two children together whom he is survived by; his daughter, Casey O'Brien Schwarz and son Scott O'Brien. Joe is also survived by his three beautiful grandchildren, Kaleb and Kaia O'Brien, and Leopold
(O'Brien) Schwarz, and his brother Kenneth O'Brien of Crestwood, NY.
Everyone, who ever met Joe knew he was one of a kind. Though he was a tremendously talented writer and gifted communicator, it was his wonderful personality that really shined brightest. Nobody could light up the room with a joke or quick comment like Joe. My condolences go out to the entire O'Brien family. Joe will be greatly missed.
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