John Curry's tribute to Dennis Leone
June 18, 2009
Dr. Leone, family, CORE members and guests:
We are assembled here today to honor a man who has dedicated the better part of a decade to represent us and our interests at Ohio STRS.
Dr. Leone will always have a special place in my heart as one of several STRS board members who really understood and understands the plight of both the active and retired educators of this state.
I liken him to another great American whom I also admire and who, like Dr. Leone, cared for the concepts of integrity, honesty and the concept of fairness for all whom he represented.
The "other" Dr. Leone, in my mind, was the former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis. Mr. Brandeis served on the Supreme Court for 23 years in the early part of the 20th century and became famous for his wisdom in dealing with those who also proscribed to the concepts of misspending, mismanagement and the entitlement philosophy.
From the bench, Justice Brandeis uttered a most-famous quote that directly applies to Dr. Leone's dedication to the stakeholders of STRS. Brandeis said, and I quote, "Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants."
To all of you assembled here today I say, Dr. Leone is the best of disinfectants that ever walked through the doors at 275 E. Broad Street.
In the STRS boardroom, there is a plaque with the names of former STRS board members. Some of the names have been tarnished, not by age but by their ethics convictions earned during their substandard performances as board members by putting their interests ahead of those of their fiduciaries.
When STRS finally places Dr. Leone's name on that plaque they should do so with a nameplate made of 24 caret gold as no other metal would be of suitable composition. Along with Dr. Leone's name should be the simple but meaningful added inscription....
"Dr. Leone lived by the Ohio Revised Code 3307.15 while many others on this board didn't.
Believe me, it takes lots more experience and wisdom to be a good board member than participating in an eight session crash course on how to learn how to be an effective and intelligent board member!
Thank you, Dr. Leone, for your dedication to honesty, integrity and having the courage for standing up in our best interests. Thank you for being "our" sunlight and "our" disinfectant.
John Curry
Dr. Leone, family, CORE members and guests:
We are assembled here today to honor a man who has dedicated the better part of a decade to represent us and our interests at Ohio STRS.
Dr. Leone will always have a special place in my heart as one of several STRS board members who really understood and understands the plight of both the active and retired educators of this state.
I liken him to another great American whom I also admire and who, like Dr. Leone, cared for the concepts of integrity, honesty and the concept of fairness for all whom he represented.
The "other" Dr. Leone, in my mind, was the former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis. Mr. Brandeis served on the Supreme Court for 23 years in the early part of the 20th century and became famous for his wisdom in dealing with those who also proscribed to the concepts of misspending, mismanagement and the entitlement philosophy.
From the bench, Justice Brandeis uttered a most-famous quote that directly applies to Dr. Leone's dedication to the stakeholders of STRS. Brandeis said, and I quote, "Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants."
To all of you assembled here today I say, Dr. Leone is the best of disinfectants that ever walked through the doors at 275 E. Broad Street.
In the STRS boardroom, there is a plaque with the names of former STRS board members. Some of the names have been tarnished, not by age but by their ethics convictions earned during their substandard performances as board members by putting their interests ahead of those of their fiduciaries.
When STRS finally places Dr. Leone's name on that plaque they should do so with a nameplate made of 24 caret gold as no other metal would be of suitable composition. Along with Dr. Leone's name should be the simple but meaningful added inscription....
"Dr. Leone lived by the Ohio Revised Code 3307.15 while many others on this board didn't.
Believe me, it takes lots more experience and wisdom to be a good board member than participating in an eight session crash course on how to learn how to be an effective and intelligent board member!
Thank you, Dr. Leone, for your dedication to honesty, integrity and having the courage for standing up in our best interests. Thank you for being "our" sunlight and "our" disinfectant.
John Curry
posted by Kathie Bracy at 9:09 PM
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