January 8, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 3 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session
IN RECOGNITION OF DON CAPALBI; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 3
(Extensions of Remarks - January 08, 2019)
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[Extensions of Remarks] [Page E13] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] IN RECOGNITION OF DON CAPALBI ______ HON. GRACE MENG of new york in the house of representatives Tuesday, January 8, 2019 Ms. MENG. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Don Capalbi, my longtime staff member who also served as a civic leader in my district in Queens, New York. Don passed away at local hospice facility in the early morning hours of December 2, 2018. He had been hospitalized at Northwell Health after sustaining a head injury from a fall. Don was my Community Liaison from 2013 to 2018 and he served in the same capacity when I was a member of the New York State Assembly from 2009 to 2012. My staff and I are devastated by his loss. Don worked tirelessly for the people of our Congressional district. He was an integral part of my team, providing me with information and advice about community issues, and representing me at civic meetings and local events. These included everything from community board and civic group meetings to press conferences and public ceremonies. One of the most recent issues he helped resolve was for the local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 3427 where he helped save costly fines. Don was a longtime resident of the Queensboro Hill neighborhood, a residential community in Flushing, Queens. In 2009, he became president of the area's civic group, the Queensboro Hill Flushing Civic Association. Don reinvigorated the organization and fought tremendously for the community. He dedicated countless hours to preserving and improving the quality of life in the neighborhood and tackled numerous causes. He fought against excessive airplane noise, advocated for traffic and transportation improvements, pushed for beautification enhancements and partnered with local schools and libraries on a variety of projects. He also worked to combat the increase of overdevelopment and many newspapers, from the Flushing Times to the New York Times, highlighted his efforts on the issue. In addition, Don was a member of many other community organizations in the Flushing area including the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce, New York Hospital Queens Community Advisory Council, 109th Precinct Community Council, Kissena Corridor Park Conservancy, Lions Club, Knights of Columbus and the NAACP. But Don was much more than a terrific civic activist and staff member. He was also a great human being; a wonderful and special person who was selfless and full of life, and one of the kindest, friendliest and gentlest people I've known. He touched and impacted so many lives and was loved, admired and respected by all with whom he worked. Rarely did I see him without a smile on his face. Born on March 2, 1945, Don was raised in Astoria, Queens. His mother Gaetana was an immigrant from Italy, and his father Frank hailed from Indiana. Don graduated from La Salle Academy High School and went on to attend Long Island University where he earned a degree in Business Administration. An only child, Don was primarily raised by his mother; his father passed away when he was just 10 years old. Don loved his mother dearly and he cared for her as she grew older. With his help, she lived to the ripe old age of 103. At the 1964-1965 World's Fair at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Don worked at the restaurant that was part of the famed Rheingold exhibit, and the job planted a seed for a career he had in the restaurant and food service business. While working at the World's Fair, Don saw firsthand the popularity of the Belgian waffles that the Fair helped introduce to the nation. Showing what a visionary entrepreneur he was, Don purchased two mobile food trucks and used the vehicles to sell the famous waffles to the public, a venture that lasted several years. Later on, Don supervised restaurant groups for Restaurant Associates Industries in Manhattan, and Inhilco division of Hilton International, where his responsibilities included the operation of six restaurants in the World Trade Center. Don then opened the Border Cafe on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, and later the College Green pub on Kissena Boulevard near Queens College. In addition, inspired by his love of travel, Don launched Away U Go Travel, a travel agency for people with disabilities. Despite Queens being the home of the New York Mets, Don was a diehard Yankees fan, and often discussed his fondness for the Bronx Bombers and the game of baseball. He loved all types of food from soup dumplings to pasta, enjoyed traveling--particularly on cruises--and was proud of his Italian heritage. He was also a fan of Caribbean music. But above all, he loved Queens. He had a deep affection for the borough he called home and always embraced its diversity, history and culture. I thank Don for his many years of dedication, and I will always remember his unwavering commitment to our constituents, and his many efforts to make our Congressional district a better place for all who live and work in west, central and northeast Queens. His contributions will have a lasting impact for many years to come. There are so many wonderful words that can be used to describe Don. Simply put, he was a class act; a decent and honorable person and a man of great integrity who served his community and our district with tremendous distinction. Madam Speaker, I ask all my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in praising the work and dedication of Don Capalbi. He will be sorely missed but the legacy of his service, and the contributions he made to help others, will never be forgotten. He will remain in our hearts forever. ____________________