James Oberstar: “I rise to pay tribute and to express profound appreciation to Gilda K. Beatty, my office manager of more than 33 years…”

“I rise to pay tribute and to express profound appreciation to Gilda K. Beatty, my office manager of more than 33 years who took her retirement at the end of December last year. Gilda, best known to everyone who met her as ``Jill,'' began her service in my office when I was administrative assistant to my predecessor, John Blatnik, in December 1969, where she started as a classical secretary: gifted, talented, skilled, energetic, hard-working. But the day before she started her service in the office, our first daughter was born. From that day forward, until after I was elected to this House in 1974, and especially following the death of my wife, Jo, Jill has been a surrogate mother to our four children, a partner in all that I undertook as administrative assistant and as Member of Congress, counselor, advisor, keeper of my time, managing my schedule in Washington and with my district staff, my travels in the district and travels elsewhere throughout the country. Jill's good humor, good spirit, and her can-do attitude, made our office a joy to work in. I have always said of Jill Beatty that she had that exceptional ability to say no to people who could then leave saying ``thank you,'' a person of whom in another context it should be said she could sell ice boxes to Eskimos.…”