December 12, 2001 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E2265 IN HONOR OF MARCUS R. HABEEB Since beginning his career at Local 420 as dear friend and civic-minded individual who a union organizer in 1954, Butler has been a worked tirelessly for the community of Echo HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS tireless fighter for better pay, health, education Park in the City of Los Angeles, California. On OF NEW YORK and other benefits for hospital employees. Sunday, October 7, 2001, we lost Bonnie after a characteristically valiant fight for life fol- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Gains for workers in these areas are the most obvious marks of his leadership. ‘‘I never felt lowing a massive heart attack. Bonnie was Tuesday, December 11, 2001 better,’’ said President Butler,’’ than when we laid to rest Saturday, October 13, 2001 at Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of were able to win respect for hospital workers.’’ Rose Hills Cemetery in Whittier, California; we Marcus R. Habeeb in recognition of his dedi- Over the last several years, Jim Butler and are comforted knowing that today she rests in cation and commitment to creating funding op- his local have waged a battle against threats peace. portunities for those in need. to privatize public hospitals in New York City. Bonnie Susan Gerzofsky was born in Brook- Marcus R. Habeeb is a proud product of The Local saw their efforts pay off with a vic- lyn, New York on January 28, 1946 to Molly New York’s education system. As he tried to tory in stopping the privatization of Coney Is- and Leonard Gerzofsky, already parents to decide on a career path, he received a para- land Hospital, and the recent victory in saving toddler Stan. When she was in the fifth grade legal certificate from Adelphi University. Once Brooklyn Central Laundry, and 200 member her family moved to Alhambra, California. he recognized that the law was not for him, he jobs with no layoffs. Jim Butler is currently en- From All Souls Catholic School and San Ga- changed his focus and received a Finance de- gaged in a boycott at several hospitals against briel Mission High School, Bonnie went on to gree from Baruch College, followed by a Mas- the contracting out of employee cafeterias to graduate from Pasadena City College and ter’s of Business Administration from the same fast food operation such as McDonald’s and then become a social worker for the County of institution. Burger King. Los Angeles. She later married John Scanlan, together Over the past twenty years, Marcus has de- No less important, however, are his con- raising their three children Johnna, John and veloped and broadened the scope of his ex- tributions to the community which the hospital Stephan. Bonnie was a very hands on mom; pertise. Beginning in 1980, as an Accounts workers serve. Butler has been the driving she passed on her family’s love of baseball to Receivable/Computer Operator, Marcus has force behind the union’s frequent demonstra- her boys, teaching them how to catch. She steadily increased his responsibility and broad- tions and rallies for social justice. Under his passed on the importance of community in- ened his portfolio. He followed his first job, leadership, Local 420’s political action also makes itself felt in voter education and reg- volvement to her children, as Bonnie’s mother with a position as an Assistant Controller, had to her, serving as Troop Leader during where he was responsible for the financial istration drives. Annually the Local registers thousands of voters and directly involves hun- her daughter’s days in the Brownies and the management of a fine jewelry manufacturer. A Girl Scouts. Bonnie was very proud of her few years later, he moved on to a position as dreds of union members in political cam- paigns. The Local was a key supporter in the family, especially her grandsons Christopher a Chief Financial Officer, for a company in a and Tommy. Perhaps the only love equal to difficult financial situation. Marcus was able to historic campaign to elect the first African- American Mayor of the City of New York, the that for her family, baseball and helping others work with the bank and other creditors to re- was Bonnie’s love for her ancestral homeland cover potentially large losses. He moved from Honorable David N. Dinkins. Jim Butler has long been part of the strug- of Ireland. this position to Senior Vice-Presidency for a fi- Ownership in a Domino’s Pizza brought nancial institution. While there he built a small gle for equal opportunity for minorities within the labor movement through active member- Bonnie to the community of Echo Park in the Asian bank into a very important player on late 1980’s. Even though Bonnie remained a Wall Street. In his next position, he expanded ship in the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, PUSH, NAACP, Urban League, and SCLC resident of the nearby city of San Gabriel, she his scope of responsibilities yet again, as the felt that as a business owner in Echo Park she Labor Committees. He served on the execu- Operations Manager for Hometrust Mortgage had a responsibility to the community and its tive board of CBTU’s New York Chapter. He Bank. While there, Marcus began to focus in- people. Bonnie’s contributions are countless: also served as a member of the New York creasingly on marketing strategies, investor re- helping to organize the Echo Park Pride Day, Consumer Assembly’s Board of Directors. lations, and home mortgages. He has used donating a monthly ‘‘Pizza Night’’ to the Chris this experience, most recently, in creating his Butler is the recipient of numerous awards and honors from civil rights, labor and commu- Brownlie AIDS Hospice, holding a food drive own business, P & R Funding. Finally, Marcus at her pizza establishment every year during is able to bring together all of the knowledge nity organizations, including the Labor Com- mittee of the NAACP, the New York and Ja- the holidays, feeding hungry police and fire- that he has accrued over his twenty year jour- fighters during times of tragedy and crisis, and ney to independence to focus on developing maica (Queens) chapters of the NAACP, the CBTU New York Chapter, Memphis Municipal bringing the Los Angeles Philharmonic financing and business products for those in Musicmobile to the children at Mayberry need. Workers Local 1733, the Coalitions of Labor Unions Women, New York State’s Black and School. It seems you could always count on Marcus is also the proud husband, of fifteen her to support any cause that helped young years to Annie, and the father of two children. Puerto Rican Caucus, the Hispanic Labor Committee, the Harlem YMCA, people in the neighborhood and, of course, to Mr. Speaker, Marcus R. Habeeb has dedi- dole out those pizzas whenever and wherever cated himself to business and his community. Queensborough Women’s Clubs, the Negro Labor Council, the Community Leadership the need arose. As such, he is more than worthy of receiving In 1998 Bonnie was elected President of the Network, and Central Baptist Church’s hon- this recognition today and I urge my col- Echo Park Chamber of Commerce, a position oree for Outstanding Christian Leader. leagues to join me in honoring this truly re- she held at the time of her death. She invig- Jim Butler has been the President of Local markable man. orated the Chamber: reviving the community 420 for 27 years and on August 18, 1999 he Holiday Parade, instituting the Jackie Finer- f was elected as a International Vice President Reed Scholarship, starting the Echo Park to the ‘‘mother union’’, AFSCME. Jim resides IN HONOR OF JAMES BUTLER business district’s ‘‘Face Lift’’ program, and or- in Astoria, Queens, NY with his wife, Eloise. Mr. Speaker, because of his dedication to ganizing the yearly Echo Park Night at Dodger HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS helping health care workers and fighting for Stadium. And, yes, there were always pizzas OF NEW YORK at every event. social justice, JIm Butler is more than worthy I feel deeply privileged to have known IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES of receiving our recognition today and I urge Bonnie. She was a trusted friend. She was Tuesday, December 11, 2001 my colleagues to join me in honoring this truly blessed with a kind, honest heart. And, as all Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of remarkable leader. who knew her will attest, she spoke her mind. James Butler in recognition of his lifetime of f How I miss that . . . outstanding service. IN MEMORY OF BONNIE SCANLAN On December 9, 2001, the community of Jim Butler, is the President of a 10,000 Echo Park paid tribute to Bonnie Scanlan by member union, Local 420 Municipal Hospital HON. XAVIER BECERRA dedicating this year’s Holiday Parade in her Workers Union, DC 37, AFSCME, AFLÐCIO. memory. Bonnie served posthumously as OF CALIFORNIA He has had a lifelong interest in the living and Grand Marshal with her family riding the pa- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES working conditions of the people around him. rade route in her stead. The people of Echo For over 40 years he has played a leadership Tuesday, December 11, 2001 Park may not realize it, but Bonnie always felt role in the struggle to improve those condi- Mr. BECERRA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to that the community did more for her than she tions. pay a heartfelt tribute to Bonnie Scanlan, a ever did for the community.
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