Mr. CROWLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to
pay tribute to the life and accomplishments of
Anthony Iurilli, who passed away on Sunday,
November 25, 2007 at age 38 after a long battle
with multiple sclerosis.
Mr. Iurilli, known as Tony, exemplified the
ideals that many of us aspire to: commitment
to education, a love of community service, and
devotion to his family and friends.
Tony was blessed with extraordinary athletic
talent. He was a 1986 graduate of St. Raymond
High School for Boys in the Bronx,
where he lettered in both baseball and basketball.
In his senior year, he was named to the
All-City Baseball Team by three New York
metropolitan newspapers
Daily News and the NY Post, and he was
awarded a New York Yankees Scholarship to
Pace University. There, he was the starting
shortstop on the baseball team for four years,
graduating in 1990 with a solid B average.
Tony
and community. After college, he worked as
Director of Recreation for HIV/AIDS patients at
Bronx Lebanon Hospital, and he taught American
history, health, and physical education at
St. Helena
He then returned to his alma mater, St. Ray
to teach American history and health education,
and to foster the athletic abilities of students
who followed in his path. He coached
the school
teams, and he served as the head junior varsity
baseball coach and the assistant varsity
baseball coach. As JV basketball coach, he
led the St. Raymond
High School All-City championships in 2003
and 2005.
While at St. Raymond, Tony was diagnosed
with multiple sclerosis, a disease that may
have crippled his body, but never his mind or
spirit. Last summer, he served as best man at
his beloved brother Frank
York before moving to Florida for medical
treatment. He returned to St. Ray
by faculty, alumni, and friends at a benefit
dinner in mid-October.
Madam Speaker, this is a difficult time for all
those who knew and loved Tony Iurilli. It is my
hope that they will be strengthened by the
memory of his selflessness, his bright smile,
and his wonderful spirit.
Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join
me in recognizing Tony
wonderful life of commitment and community
service.
’s Ravens to Catholic’s wedding in New’s to be honored’s all too brief, but
