The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING THE LIFE OF GERI LANGLOIS
______
HON. JOE COURTNEY
of connecticut
in the house of representatives
Friday, October 21, 2022
Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to mourn the passing of a beloved Northeastern Connecticut public servant, Mr. Geri Langlois of Windham, Connecticut. Geri Langlois sadly passed at the all too young age of 68 on Sunday, September 18, 2022, after a valiant battle with myelodysplastic syndrome. Mr. Langlois was a leader who was instrumental in executing successful development projects in eastern Connecticut which will have a lasting legacy on the lives of residents throughout the region.
Born on April 16, 1954, in Putnam, Connecticut to Carol and Edrose Langlois, Geri grew up with his family only a few towns south of Windham in Canterbury. Geri graduated from Windham High School and continued to practice his devotion to learning at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Geri was a true jack of all trades, including, for example, the additional education he gained from MIT where he studied computer sciences, as well as his numerous other passions, from gardening to crafting custom guitars.
Upon his graduation from university, Geri's lifelong arc began to bend to its true form: public service. In applying his unique ability to master any new skill or challenge before him, Geri first started out as an organizer for the Connecticut Citizen Action Group, committing himself toward the mission of creating a just and sustainable Connecticut. Given his natural success at community organizing, Geri then ran for and was elected to the position of First Selectman of the Town of Thompson, yet another community in the northern reaches of the Second District of Connecticut. Among his countless skills, Geri was clearly most adept as an advocate for others, and his neighbors ultimately promoted him to the elected office of State Representative of the 51st District. Madam Speaker, I had the pleasure of serving in the Connecticut General Assembly in the 1980s and early 1990s as a colleague of Geri, and had a front row seat to watch him in action. I witnessed his intelligent, principled advocacy for the people of the 51st District which was highly successful. State Representative Langlois specifically facilitated many key economic development projects including the revitalization of Windham Mills, an iconic site in the Town of Windham as well as the enactment of a prescription drug plan for Connecticut seniors in 1987 which predated the U.S. Congress passage of Medicare Part D by 14 years. Geri was a great friend and an ally on many issues during our time together and his honorable service will be remembered for all time.
Geri Langlois' charisma extended far past the state officials he routinely worked with and came to be known as a ``fighter of the people.'' After his terms as State Representative and First Selectman, Geri remained a stalwart champion of economic development through his tenure as Executive Director at the Northeast Connecticut Economic Alliance and President of the Windham Mills Development Corporation. At the Northeast Connecticut Economic Alliance, he helped struggling small businesses obtain funding when they were locked out of obtaining funds from traditional lending sources, spurring economic activity throughout all of Windham County. As a member of the Windham Zoning Board of Appeals, he remained an active participant in community-based discussions, oriented toward economic development, through to his final days.
Geri's most defining trait was his love for his family. Despite Geri leading an immensely busy life and career, he always made certain to prioritize his wife of 27 years, Sherry, children, and grandchildren. In fact, the bond between Sherry and Geri was so well tuned that they even co-founded a business together, Rapid Framework, which was missioned toward supporting other businesses through website development services.
Madam Speaker, it is an honor to represent constituents as devoted to the prosperity of their community as Geri Langlois. Geri's storied career of public service is a shining beacon that has reflected onto countless others to inspire good citizenship. I am honored to have gained the opportunity to work with such a remarkable individual on behalf of eastern Connecticut. His memory will live on in the hearts of his family and throughout the communities and businesses which he helped grow. To that end, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in honoring Geri's life, so that his distinct work in service to the region may never be forgotten.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 166(1), Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 166(2)
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