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Floor Speech

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Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a man of unyielding faith, compassion, and love, Reverend O. Robert DeMartinis, known to New York's capital region as Father Bob. This year celebrates the 40th anniversary of his ordination as a priest.

Born in Amsterdam, New York, on November 11, 1956, to Filomena Sasso and the late Tullio DeMartinis, Father Bob, guided by the deep faith of his parents and service as an altar boy for Fathers Robert Baltch and Joseph Beck, sensed his calling at an early age.

He was ordained in Florida in 1986 and returned home to Amsterdam on Trinity Sunday to celebrate his first mass that year at St. Casimir's Church. He permanently returned to the Albany Catholic Diocese in 1990, serving at several parishes within the diocese.

It was in 2010 that Father Bob was welcomed for service in his hometown of Amsterdam to shepherd the congregation of St. Stanislaus. Today, as pastor of both St. Stanislaus and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Churches, his devotion and spirit of service shine through every mass he offers and every religious assignment he assumes.

As we honor his four decades of faithful service, a hearty ``for many more years''; ``ad multos annos,'' Father Bob, is rendered.

I congratulate Father Bob on his many years of service.

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