The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING THE LIFE OF MARVIN WAGNER
______
HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY
of virginia
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, July 21, 2021
Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I rise to celebrate the life of my dear friend Marvin Wagner, a pivotal Northern Virginia leader who passed away on May 23, 2020, at the age of 90.
Marvin Wagner grew up in the Williamsburg public housing projects in Brooklyn, New York. From a young age Marvin had to support his mother and sister by working to put food on the table for his family all while going to school. In 1946, Marvin enlisted in the Army and was able to utilize the GI Bill to then attend Long Island University. After earning his four-year degree from LIU, he attended Brooklyn Law School and successfully passed the bar exam. Shortly after, he met and married the love of his life, Harriet, who became his partner and best friend for the next 66 years.
Throughout his career, Marvin dedicated himself to service and strived to make the world a better and safer place. Marvin quickly became involved in Democratic politics and worked in local government on highway safety issues on Long Island. To learn new best practices for highway safety, Marvin traveled to Scandinavia to study their use of breath and blood alcohol tests to identify drunk drivers and introduced the concept locally in the town of Oyster Bay and Nassau County, New York. Later, he would go on to introduce his ideas as a member of the National Highway Traffic Safety Board within the Department of Transportation. Nationally, he helped formulate strategies that were instrumental in reducing drunk driving deaths such as: data-based testing, implied consent laws, and the legalization of roadblocks. Marvin also helped create national standards by continuing to educate lawmakers and judges all over the country.
In addition to his groundbreaking work in the public health and safety area, Marvin focused his attention on helping juvenile offenders as an attorney in Fairfax, Virginia. Marvin's commitment and service to youth offenders led two governors to appoint him to the Juvenile Justice Commission in Richmond, where he served for eight years. His personal experience with poverty and adversity at a young age allowed him to skillfully advocate for the children and young adults that came through the juvenile justice system.
Public service was at the core of who Marvin was. In addition to his contributions in public safety and the juvenile justice system, Marvin served as a leader of party committees throughout his adult life, the last eight years as the chair of the Democratic Club at Greenspring retirement community in Springfield, Virginia. He was passionate about music, theater, and dance, and he channeled that by serving as a volunteer usher with his wife, Harriet, at Wolf Trap in Vienna for 30 years. Marvin also had an adventurous spirit--he loved to travel and made sure to take annual trips with his wife and family. But above all Marvin was a dedicated and loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.
Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life and legacy of Marvin Wagner. His leadership and commitment to public service helped save lives all over the country, and he will be missed by all who knew him. I also extend my deepest condolences to his wife, Harriet; his loving children, Carole, Robert, Janet, and Steven; daughters-in-law, Laura and Jenny; son-in-law, Bill; and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. May his memory be a blessing.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 128
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