The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING THE LIFE OF JOHN DAVID WARD
______
HON. JOE COURTNEY
of connecticut
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, June 29, 2021
Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise today to honor the life of the late John David Ward, of Vernon, Connecticut, who passed away surrounded by family on March 17, 2021, at the age of 59. As someone who has shared a hometown with John, practiced law in the same courts, and witnessed his public service firsthand, I can attest to his intelligence, compassion and integrity in all his endeavors.
Born to William and Mary Durkin Ward in Holyoke, Massachusetts, John was raised and educated in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts where he graduated high school in 1980. As one who always placed value on education--John went on to earn a bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst before obtaining his J.D. in 1991 from Western New England University's Law School. Equipped with a law degree, John quickly transitioned his Massachusetts-based education to start his career as an assistant clerk at the Rockville Superior Court. After some experience in the courthouse and brief stints with several law firms, John ultimately found a place at Liberty Mutual, where his specialties included labor relations and worker's compensation law. Having gained his full footing in a career that enabled his specialties to excel, John settled here in Vernon and we became neighbors. As I mentioned earlier, I handled cases in the same courts as John, and he was a talented, highly ethical professional who treated clients, fellow lawyers and court officials as consummate gentleman and advocate.
As a resident of Vernon, John developed the roots for his greatest passion: community service. This was exemplified early on when he was first elected to the Board of Education and then to Vernon's Town Council. In 2008, John even decided to leave the insurance business to pursue this passion of community service by working in local government as the Town Administrator for Vernon, serving in this role over the course of three mayoral administrations. During his tenure as Town Administrator, John directed renovations of the old mills and secured a new senior center for our neighboring residents. In 2011, John placed himself on the front lines of emergency service in Vernon when Connecticut was hit with the ``Snowtober'' nor'easter. Outside working for the town in a more official capacity, he often volunteered as a
``pit parent'' for the high school marching band. In fact, he coached and help raised Vernon's youngest generation through numerous youth sports including basketball, soccer and football.
It is worth noting that John's love for public service stayed with him into his latest years. In 2017, John made the switch to serve as the Town Manager in Granby, Connecticut where he brought the force of his passion for community service. John also went on to fuse together his enthusiasm for learning and public service, earning a master's degree in Public Administration from the University of Connecticut in 2019.
Madam Speaker, it is an honor to represent constituents as honorable and impactful as John. John's commitment to our town became a part of his life blood, causing him to touch the hearts of many in our community. While we all mourn the early loss of John, we can at least find solace that his story and memory live on in others, including his wife of more than 25 years, Wendy, and children James, Joe, Elizabeth and David. I find it fitting that we, the People's House, honor John's name and character. I ask that the entire House join me in recognizing the life of John David Ward, never forgetting the importance of serving the community.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 113
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