Ahepans Mourn Passing of Longtime Hellenic Caucus Member, Brumidi Champion U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr.

 

American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association

Contact: AHEPA Headquarters Phone: 202.232.6300 E-mail: ahepa@ahepa.org   For Immediate Release | August 21, 2024 Ahepans Mourn Passing of Longtime Hellenic Caucus Member, Brumidi Champion U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. Supreme President Savas C. Tsivicos has issued the following statement: The AHEPA family is deeply saddened by passing of U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ), a longtime, staunch member of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues. Congressman Pascrell always will be remembered fondly by the American Hellenic community as a lead sponsor of legislation to award posthumously Constantino Brumidi with the Congressional Gold Medal when he served as co-chair of the Congressional Italian American Caucus. Thanks to his passion and determination, the bill became law, and Brumidi, who was of Italian and Greek ancestry, received his long overdue honor. In his floor remarks, Pascrell graciously credited the dynamic coalition of Greek American and Italian American groups that advocated for the bill’s passage -- that included citing AHEPA specifically. Watch floor remarks (Pascrell's remarks 10 1/2 minutes in) Rep. Pascrell was a true friend of the American Hellenic community. He supported our community's domestic and foreign policy priorities and recently attended our 46th Biennial Congressional Banquet in May. Our deepest sympathies and condolences are with the Pascrell family. May his memory be eternal.  (Pictured: AHEPA Executive Director Basil N. Mossaidis and Daughters of Penelope Executive Director Elena Saviolakis with Congressman Pascrell, who proudly displays Brumidi's Congressional Gold Medal at the official ceremony in July 2012.)   Founded in 1922 in Atlanta, Georgia, on the principles that undergirded its fight for civil rights and against discrimination, bigotry, and hatred felt at the hands of the Ku Klux Klan, AHEPA is the largest and oldest grassroots association of American citizens of Greek heritage and Philhellenes with more than 400 chapters across the United States, Canada, and Europe.  AHEPA's mission is to promote the ancient Greek ideals of Education, Philanthropy, Civic Responsibility, and Family and Individual Excellence through community service and volunteerism.  For more information, please visit www.ahepa.org.