On the recordJanuary 23, 2013
I rise today to honor the life, legacy and service of a dear friend--John Edward Bresch. Jack lead a life filled with compassion. He worked tirelessly for everyone to have access to affordable, quality health care, especially needy children and families. His heart was as big as heaven. But Jack's life was also a life of great humor. Anybody who knew him also knew his warm and infectious laugh. It was a sure sign that Jack was somewhere nearby because you could almost hear his laughter before you saw his face. And everybody was glad to see Jack coming their way. He truly never met a stranger. Sadly, we won't be able to hear that distinct laughter again. Jack passed away on September 1, 2012, surrounded by his family after a brief and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. From the moment of his fateful diagnosis until the day he left us, we saw in him grace and courage, dignity and humility, joy and, yes, laughter--and so much love and gratitude lived out on a daily basis that, even in our sorrow, his memory will never be lost. Tomorrow, Jack will be laid to rest in our Nation's most hallowed ground--Arlington National Cemetery--with full military honors as a decorated Naval Lieutenant who served as a Chaplain during the Vietnam war. In his life, Jack Bresch was many things but above all, a family man, devoted to his wife, JoAnn; his children, Mary Elizabeth, James Richard, and Jeffrey John; and 10 grandchildren on whom he doted.…
