December 4, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 193 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1534-E1535]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       IN MEMORY OF GARY MAZZONE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOE COURTNEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 4, 2019

  Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to observe and mourn the passing 
of retired Police Captain Gary Mazzone of East Windsor, Connecticut. 
Sadly, Gary's death was the result of a tragic plane accident that 
occurred on October 2, 2019 at Bradley International Airport in Windsor 
Locks, Connecticut.
  Gary's full and productive life touched thousands of his fellow 
citizens. First, as a police officer in the town of Vernon, Connecticut 
where I reside, later as an inspector in the office of Chief State's 
Attorney, the highest office in the Connecticut criminal justice 
system, and eventually as the lead Inspector in the office of the 
Litchfield State's Attorney. Altogether his service in the police and 
court systems of Connecticut totaled 42 years of diligent, competent, 
ethical professionalism. As a lawyer in practice in Vernon before 
entering Congress, I personally witnessed Gary's relentless work ethic, 
as well as his commitment to upholding the laws and Constitution of the 
state of Connecticut and the United States. His exemplary service and 
friendliness made him a natural role model to young officers who served 
under him as he rose to the rank of Captain. Despite his high rank and 
the extensive powers that go with it, Gary never ``put on airs'' and 
always kept a very grounded perspective on life. He had a great sense 
of humor and was always willing to listen to an opposing view point 
with respect and consideration. He was the quintessential American 
police officer--tough but fair, fearless but human.
  As the many accolades and reminiscences poured forth in statewide 
media and in North Central Connecticut in response to the heartbreaking 
news, stories abounded not only of his work in public safety, but also 
of his volunteerism in the town of East Windsor, his support of the 
special Olympics, and his devotion to honoring our country's veterans.
  Madam Speaker, perhaps most powerfully, his family shared with the 
people of Connecticut stories of his abiding love for his wife Joan, 
their children Daniel, Brian, Maureen, Kim, and Stacey, and his father 
Pasquale. He took an active and enthusiastic interest in all their 
pursuits and successes. In particular, the Hartford Courant sports page 
published a wonderful story describing his passionate love of high 
school football, particularly the Stafford/Somers/East Windsor Bulldog 
high school team that his son Brian coaches. He attended all their 
games and was always there to positively help his son and the players 
succeed. Three days after the crash, Brian summoned his father's memory 
to find the strength to coach the Bulldogs to an emotional victory 
against rival Valley Regional/Old Lyme. Madam Speaker, I include in the 
Record, the Courant's story by Mr. Shawn McFarland dated October 6, 
2019 which captures so well the essence of Gary's lively spirit, family 
devotion, and deep impact he made on all who knew him.
  Madam Speaker, I ask that the House join me in expressing our 
profound admiration for Gary Mazzone's lifetime of public service and 
deepest condolences to his family for their loss.

               [From the Hartford Courant, Oct. 6, 2019]

Three Days After His Father Died in the B-17 Crash at Bradley Airport, 
             Brian Mazzone Is Back on the Sideline Coaching

       After each Stafford/Somers/East Windsor football game, Gary 
     Mazzone would be the first to greet his son, Brian, the 
     team's head coach, with a hug. Those close to the team say 
     that Gary never missed a game.
       Gary Mazzone, 66, a retired police inspector in the 
     Litchfield State's Attorney's office, was one of seven killed 
     in Wednesday's B-17 crash at Bradley International Airport. 
     Boarding the World War II era bomber was described as a 
     ``bucket list'' type event for Gary Mazzone, who had a 
     passion for history.
       Saturday was Brian Mazzone's first game coaching without 
     his father; the first game in which he wouldn't receive the 
     traditional hug and ``post game report,'' as Stafford 
     assistant Bob Grant described.
       As the final seconds ticked off in the Bulldogs' 21-7 win 
     over Valley Regional/Old Lyme, one by one, Stafford players 
     surrounded Brian Mazzone until the entire team had formed one 
     giant hug around their coach. The final whistle blew, and 
     Mazzone--who had remained composed for the entire game--broke 
     into tears.
       ``I never used to cry, ever,'' Mazzone said. ``My mom died 
     10 years ago. Once my mom died, you say `hi' to me and I 
     start crying now. When someone grabs you and hugs you . . . 
     there's a lot of emotion in that.''
       Mazzone was a walking tribute to his father during the 
     game. He wore Gary's Stafford football hoodie, which Brian 
     picked up early Saturday morning at his father's home in 
     Vernon. He wore a camouflage Bulldog hat, an homage to his 
     father's love for hunting. Mazzone said he had gotten the hat 
     for his father as a Christmas gift years back, and ironically 
     enough, Gary Mazzone had requested a normal Bulldog cap 
     instead. Brian Mazzone then went and got a camouflage hat for 
     himself.
       ``He went to every game,'' Grant said. ``Big Gar was 
     something special. We'd go down and sit in the coach's room, 
     and he'd sit with us. He was one of a kind.''
       Prior to kickoff, a ``moment of celebration'' was held in 
     lieu of a standard moment of silence. All in attendance 
     applauded Gary Mazzone's life, as Brian broke down in tears 
     and was consoled by Grant. Brian Mazzone said his dad would 
     have loved it.
       ``We've been crying a lot, and we've been watching the 
     news,'' Mazzone said. ``[Gary Mazzone] would be patting his 
     chest, going, `See me on the news? I was on CBS nightly news. 
     You see that? I'm on the front page of the paper.' Every 
     time, even back when he was working, he'd be, `I'm in the 
     news today. I'm in the news today.' He would eat up the 
     attention. I'm very similar to him.''
       Mazzone described his dad as ``funny as hell'' and as a man 
     who was full of life and loved having fun. He was known for 
     his famous prank calls, where he would call a business and 
     apply for an internship, and then never show up. In the days 
     since Gary's passing, Brian has had many reach out to pass 
     along their condolences. Almost all of them have had a new 
     Gary Mazzone prank story to share, too.
       Like Gary, Brian is lively. When his team forced a fumble 
     early in the first quarter, Mazzone sprinted onto the field, 
     pumping a fist and pounding his chest. When senior Tyler 
     Ouellete connected with junior Trent Kology on an 84-yard 
     touchdown pass in the second quarter, Mazzone sprinted the 
     length of the field celebrating, nearly stride-for-stride 
     with Kology.
       ``They always make fun of me when we watch the film and I'm 
     jumping around and running,'' Mazzone said with a laugh. ``If 
     you notice, I run like an idiot. I've got my chest out like 
     this. I don't know who taught me to run.''
       There was never a doubt for Mazzone that he would coach 
     Saturday's game, though he said it had less to do with his 
     father and more so to do with the fact that he didn't want to 
     rearrange the schedule. The Connecticut Interscholastic 
     Athletic Conference granted the team permission to move 
     Saturday's game to a later date, though Mazzone didn't want 
     to force his players to sit through back-to-back bye weeks.
       That was to be expected of Mazzone, as his assistants, 
     current and former players will tell you. In the face of an 
     unbearable tragedy, his motives were for his team.

[[Page E1535]]

       ``We knew that we had to pick him up, because he's 
     supported us all this time,'' said Ouellette, who threw two 
     touchdown passes in the win. ``We knew that we had to come 
     through and support him. It was great to see him here. We all 
     came together, and we all played hard for him.''
       Each Bulldog helmet had a ``GM'' decal in memory of Gary 
     Mazzone. Valley Regional/Old Lyme also wore the decals on 
     their helmets.
       Tim King, head coach of the Warriors who opposed the 
     Bulldogs on Saturday, is a longtime friend of Brian Mazzone, 
     and understands what he was going through Saturday. In 2015, 
     King coached two days after his father, George Sr., passed 
     away at age 92.
       ``It's a football family,'' King said. ``For 48 minutes, 
     you battle on the field. But reality is this type of stuff. 
     When I heard about it, it's the first thing I told our kids. 
     You can worry about grades, you can worry about whatever, but 
     when something happens as horrible as what happened to 
     Brian's dad, that's reality. The game of football means 
     absolutely nothing. All respect in the world, I know exactly 
     what he was going through.''
       A handful of former Stafford players were in attendance, 
     standing behind the Bulldogs' sideline, many wearing team 
     gear. Mazzone greeted each with a hug following the end of 
     the first quarter.

                          ____________________