The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING THE LIFE OF JOE PARADISO
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HON. JOE COURTNEY
of connecticut
in the house of representatives
Friday, August 12, 2022
Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a true hometown hero of Eastern Connecticut, attorney Joseph Paradiso, of Stafford Springs, Connecticut, who passed away sadly but peacefully at his home on Monday, August 8, 2022, at the age of 87.
Born a Stafford Springs native to Joseph Sr. and Rachele Paradiso, Joe was always destined to serve as a steward of his community. Having graduated from Cheshire Academy, he was educated and trained in the Jesuit tradition at the College of Holy Cross and Georgetown Law in Washington, D.C. That tradition which infuses the highest standards of learning with a deep ethical core, clearly molded Joe's thoughtful, caring approach to the practice of law and his interaction with people from all walks of life.
A gentleman who was captivated by opportunities to serve in any form, Joe joined the U.S. Army after earning his law degree. Upon his discharge, the pull of his roots in his home state of Connecticut brought him back to Stafford Springs to begin his career in law. Joe in many ways was a Stafford Springs version of the iconic small-town lawyer, Atticus Finch from ``To Kill a Mockingbird.'' Joe wore the badge of his alma mater with a sense of duty, gaining a reputation as a balanced, fair-minded prosecutor with a deep fidelity to the law. Madam Speaker, as a lawyer practicing in the same Tolland County community as Joe, I spent a lot of time in the courtrooms with him, working on cases that are a staple to small town America. I was fortunate enough over many years of working side by side, to earn Joe's friendship and get a close-up view of exactly who Joe was during his 37-year-long career as a prosecutor in the Rockville Superior Court system. I can attest, Madam Speaker, to the vibrant spirit that was Joe's heart--his fierce stance for taking the moral path regardless of the forces in opposition, and his respect for both people and clients regardless of their identity or background. Joe was both highly competent and fair, causing residents from all over the surrounding region to seek out his help in their moments of need. His big heart was willing to help them all.
A beloved pillar of the community in Stafford, Joe wore many hats outside of his own practice. Even as I left the court room to run for public office, it is worth noting that I, too, continued to have dealings with him under his various roles within the community. Reflective of his lifelong passion to lift the voices of those around him, he was a staunch advocate for individuals with disabilities. Joe in fact co-founded Journey Found, a nonprofit organization with a mission to advance disability support services for individuals. Journey Found was organized in 2013 to fill the void left by a facility closure, which would have resulted in the disruption of the lives of more than 250 clients and staff, had Joe and the team at Journey Found not stepped in. Outside of his elective roles of advocacy, Joe remained involved and a known constant in Stafford through several other roles, including, for example, his regular commitment to community outings, involvement in numerous benefit societies, membership within the Stafford Rotary Club and tenure on the Stafford Public Schools Board of Education.
Madam Speaker, it has been an honor to know and represent constituents of Eastern Connecticut like Joe Paradiso. He has been an inspiration and guiding light for countless members of our surrounding community, and his altruistic presence will be sorely missed. Predeceased by his wife Donna, Joe is survived by his three children, Joseph Paradiso III, Christopher Paradiso, and Rachel Paradiso as well as their respective families. Though we will mourn the enormous void left in his wake, it is an honor to join with his family and community in carrying his memory forward, purposing it as an example for others. To that end, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in saying farewell to an old friend and mentor, Joe Paradiso.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 135(1), Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 135(2)
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