Floor Statement: Tribute to Alfred Lerner

FLOOR STATEMENT: TRIBUTE TO ALFRED LERNER

Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to and recognize the accomplishments of a great man and a great leader -- Alfred " Al" Lerner. Al passed away on October 23, 2002, at the age of 69, following a courageous battle against cancer. He left behind a lasting legacy of hard work and remarkable generosity. Al gave so much of himself -- he never hesitated to share his good fortune with fellow citizens, particularly those who were in need.

Mr. President, Al Lerner was a man who not only believed strongly in the American Dream -- he also lived it. He was born the son of Russian immigrants in Brooklyn, New York in 1933. He graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School in 1951, and also received a B.A. from Columbia College in 1955. After college in the early 1960s, he took a job with the Broyhill Furniture Company as a salesman. His work for Broyhill took him from New York to Baltimore and ultimately to his home in Cleveland.

With him on this journey -- with him always by his side -- was his best friend, his partner, his wife -- Norma. Al and Norma were high school sweethearts, and they were inseparable. Together, they shared 47 years of marriage. And together, they raised their two children, Randy and Nancy. Al and Norma's commitment to each other and their children was a strong one -- they were both well known for attending every school function and every after-school game their children were involved in, setting their professional lives aside to spend time with family.

When Al wasn't spending time with his family, he was working tirelessly in the community. Al's numerous professional accomplishments include his service as chairman and chief executive of the MBNA Corporation, chairman and owner of the Cleveland Browns, and trustee of Columbia University, Case Western Reserve University, and New York Presbyterian Hospital.

I was especially struck by something Al once noted about his success. He said:

"This is the only country in the world [where] that would be possible. The only country in the world for a guy like me with nothing, no background, no sport, no connections, nothing to help me and no talent. It wasn't that I was a great violin player or a great something. Where a guy like me could just sort of figure it out every day and at some point wake up and say, 'You did pretty good.'"

Indeed, Mr. President, Al Lerner did pretty good! His accomplishments, both in terms of his own personal success, as well as his ability to lend a helping hand to fellow citizens and community members, are clear indications of his success and his compassion and his humanity.

Al Lerner led by example. He served his country as a Marine Corps officer and pilot from 1955 through 1957, and later continued his service by becoming a director of the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation.

His service to our country did not end with his departure from the armed forces. Al was known in particular for his extremely generous contributions to local and national charities, including a contribution of ten million dollars in 1993 to Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital in Cleveland, a donation of sixteen million dollars to support construction of the Lerner Research Institute, and a donation of one hundred million dollars to the Cleveland Clinic -- one of the largest donations to academic medicine in the history of our nation.

His humility and dedication to fellow citizens is nowhere better evidenced than in the quiet contributions he worked to provide for families of victims of the tragic September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. He helped raise funds, through his affiliation with the MBNA Corporation and the Cleveland Browns, for the "Cleveland Browns Hero Fund" to aid families from the New York City Fire and Police Departments who suffered the loss of a parent.

Al continued his service to the country following the September 11th attacks by serving as one of 15 members of the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board, advising President Bush on the quality and adequacy of intelligence collection to improve the security of our homeland.

Mr. President, Al Lerner was an American patriot -- a patriot with a purpose and one who succeeded remarkably in achieving what he set out to accomplish. By embracing the American Dream and dedicating himself to sharing with his fellow citizens the good fortune that resulted from his pursuit of it, Al truly distinguished himself as an outstanding American, and certainly one worthy of the respect of the United States Senate.

As I think about Al's life, I am reminded of the strong bond he shared with Norma. They were such good friends and were really partners in life, working side-by-side -- together -- to raise their family and to help their community. I was quite touched at Al's funeral when Norma, a very strong and courageous woman, spoke about her life with Al. I remember her saying this:

"[Al] took us from where we were to beyond where we even would have dreamed we are now. . . . He had an unwavering commitment to helping others and he was the most generous man I've ever known. There was always someone he wanted to help, whether they were sick, financially troubled or just needed a good friend."

That was Al Lerner.

Mr. President, I would like to extend my thoughts and prayers to the entire Lerner family -- especially Norma, Randy and Nancy -- and to the families, friends, and community members who worked with Al and the organizations he supported. As Sir Winston Churchill once said, "We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give." Mr. President, few men have adhered more closely to this wise adage than Alfred Lerner.

I am very pleased that last week the Senate passed a resolution that my friend and colleague from Ohio -- Senator George VOINVICH -- and I introduced that recognizes Al Lerner's life, achievements, and contributions. Mr. President, this commemorative resolution is the least we can do here in the Senate, on behalf of the entire nation, to honor a man who dedicated his life to honoring his fellow Americans. I thank Al for all his contributions to our State and Nation.

I thank the Chair and yield the Floor.