Formatting necessary for an accurate reading of this text may be shown by tags (e.g., <DELETED> or <BOLD>) or may be missing from this TXT display. For complete and accurate display of this text, see the PDF.
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1546]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF SEBASTIAN J. ARESCO
______
HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO
of connecticut
in the house of representatives
Thursday, December 5, 2019
Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, It is with the heaviest of hearts that I
rise today to join the many family, friends, and colleagues who have
gathered to pay tribute to a very special member of the Middlefield,
Connecticut community, Sebastian J. Aresco, who lost his battle with
cancer late last week. Public servant, veteran, friend, and mentor,
Seb's loss will be felt by many.
Born in Middletown, Connecticut, Seb was a member of the United
States Air Force and proudly served our country with distinction during
the Vietnam War. He did not speak a lot about his time in the service,
however, he spent countless hours with his fellow veterans throughout
his life. He could often be found at events and programs sponsored by
the local VFW. Seb was also very dedicated member of the Saint Colman
Church community. In his professional life, Seb was a proud employee of
the State of Connecticut--an auditor with the State Treasurer's office
for several decades before his retirement just a few years ago. In his
spare time, he could often be found at the shore, enjoying a day of
fishing, grabbing a lobster or whole belly clam roll at Lenny and Joe's
Fish Tale, or simply enjoying the tranquil beauty of the ocean.
Seb took great pride in his military and state service, but he was
perhaps best known for his work in the political arena. He was raised
to understand the importance of our political process and his life
experiences highlighted them even more so. He wanted to make a
difference in his community, and he did so through the art of politics.
He served on various Boards and Commissions in Middlefield, but it was
his leadership as the Chair of the local Democratic Party--a position
which he held for more than thirty years--where Seb excelled. Seb was
one of those rare individuals who volunteered his time, energy, and
even his home to ensure that every member of his community was
encouraged to participate in the political process. He was a mentor to
many as they became involved in local government and navigated elected
office. He also had a unique understanding of how local, state, and
federal government could work together to improve the quality of life
for all. Though Middlefield is one of the smaller communities in
Connecticut, Seb's dedication, passion, and commitment earned him the
respect and admiration of political leaders across the state.
Put simply, Seb was one of the good ones. He had a quiet strength and
heart of gold. I, like so many others, consider myself fortunate to
have known him and to have called him my friend. He will be deeply
missed by family, friends, and the community to which he dedicated so
much of his time and energies. His tireless efforts as a veteran, state
employee, and community leader made a real difference in the lives of
others and I am honored to have this opportunity to stand and pay
tribute to the life and legacy of Sebastian J. Aresco. I extend my
deepest sympathies to his daughters, Amanda and Andrea, as well as his
longtime companion, Joan, at this most difficult time, and hope that
they can find comfort in knowing that Seb's legacy of public service,
generosity, and kindness will continue to inspire all of those
privileged enough to have known him.
____________________
