The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING THE LIFE OF RALPH MONACO
______
HON. JOE COURTNEY-
of connecticut
in the house of representatives
Friday, September 17, 2021
Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask the Members of the House to join me in mourning the passing of Ralph Monaco, a highly talented and respected lawyer in the State of Connecticut, a devoted husband and father, and all-around outstanding citizen who cared for his community and always went above and beyond to help others. We tragically lost Ralph on July 10, 2021 at the young age of 54. Ralph truly represented the best of eastern Connecticut and was a role model to so many in the field of law. His legacy and his leadership in private practice and in the public sphere will always be remembered and cherished.
Ralph was born in the Bronx in 1967 and spent most of his adolescence in the Big Apple. After exceling in his primary and secondary education, he decided to continue his education and attended Fordham University. While there--he made the decision that he would pursue a career in the field of law and chose to attend Quinnipiac Law School in North Haven, Connecticut, where his love for law truly flourished. After a successful academic career and graduation from law school in 1993--Ralph pursued his legal career and ventured to become a trial lawyer right here in eastern Connecticut. Through his determination and hard work, Ralph ascended in the field and became a partner at a firm right here in New London, CT at Conway, Londregan, Sheehan & Monaco P.C.
His passion for the law eventually carried Ralph to becoming an active member of the Connecticut Bar Association (CBA). There, through his convivial personality and highly ethical and sophisticated knowledge of the law, he rose through the ranks and became the 87th and youngest President in the history of the CBA by 2010. With the CBA, he formed relationships with many public officials and led several initiatives within the organization including his activity as the founder of the Civics Education Committee and serving as chair of the Modernizing Lawyer Referrals & Law Firm Models Subcommittee of the State of the Legal Profession Task Force; as well as the legislative liaison of the Litigation Section. Moreover--he was a crucial contributor to the CBA's Volunteer Attorney Program which grants families and individuals in need access to pro-bono legal assistance.
Ralph's community involvement went far beyond his major contributions to the CBA. He served on the Jury Committee of the Chief Justice's Public Safety and Trust Commission and was appointed by Connecticut Secretary of the State Denise W. Merrill to serve on the Civics Commission. He was also an active member of the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, Connecticut Bar Foundation, and New London County Bar Association. Ralph was an individual who gave all his energy to supporting the greater good and one cannot quantify all the lives he positively impacted with his contributions to our eastern Connecticut community through the field of law. We will be forever grateful for Ralph's efforts and will work to carry his legacy of compassion.
Those who had the pleasure of working with Ralph attest to his tireless and focused work ethic. Ralph was a gentleman but not stuffy--
he enjoyed a good laugh and was sensitive to anyone he interacted with. I had the pleasure to get to him know him during my years in the practice of law and as his Congressman. Ralph's sudden and unexpected loss has left a void in Eastern Connecticut and the legal community. Madam Speaker, to that end, I again ask that my colleagues and this Chamber to join me in expressing our deepest respect for Ralph's work and life and send our deepest condolences to the Monaco family. Ralph is survived by his wife Dina and daughters Abby and Anna--his sister Angela--and many other family members and friends who will carry the lasting memory of Ralph in their hearts.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 161
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