LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring distinguished educator Germaine Graf
upon the occasion of her upcoming retirement and the celebration of her
90th Birthday

WHEREAS, It is the practice of this Legislative Body to take note of and
publicly acknowledge individuals of remarkable integrity and character
whose endeavors have enhanced the quality of education in this great
State; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor distinguished
educator Germaine Graf upon the occasion of her retirement and the cele-
bration of her 90th Birthday; and
WHEREAS, The result of many individual efforts, the excellence and the
success of Holy Names School in Albany, New York is due in large part to
the efforts of Germaine Graf; and
WHEREAS, Germaine Muscat Graf came of age in wartime Paris; she was a
messenger for the French Resistance during the German Occupation; and
WHEREAS, From the Bronx, Hank Graf served as a French translator for
the Army, which landed him a coveted job as purchasing agent for General
George Patton; and
WHEREAS, Germaine Graf met her future husband by chance; Hank Graf was
a U.S. Army Sergeant who attended a USO dance at a club in the center of
Paris a week after the German surrender to the Allies in 1945; Germaine
was 22 years old and had crashed the noncommissioned officer's dance
with a girlfriend; and
WHEREAS, Hank and Germaine Graf married on November 6, 1945; they
spoke French around the house and raised three children and eventually
had six grandchildren and one great-grandchild; and
WHEREAS, When Hank Graf died in 1999, Germaine Graf was bereft; and
WHEREAS, A few mouths after his death, Germaine Graf, a 75-year-old
widow who had taught French in high schools in Rockland County stopped
in at Academy of the Holy Names and asked if the school could use a
part-time French teacher; and
WHEREAS, As it happened, the school had an opening for a French teach-
er; Mary Anne Vigliante, the Upper School Principal, called it an act of
providence and offered Germaine a three-week tryout from which she never
left; and
WHEREAS, Germaine Graf has taught every level of French the school
offers (levels 1-5), but currently teaches levels 4 and 5, which are
college preparatory courses for which students can earn college credit
at the University at Albany and elsewhere; and
WHEREAS, Academy of the Holy Names came along at the right time for
Graf, and vice versa; the students love her; she is a wonderful French
teacher; she has brought so much life experience to her class and is a
wonderful role model for the students, who, on her birthday brought her
a birthday cake, a bouquet of white and pink roses, a birthday card and
framed photographs of their beloved madame, who is retiring in June
2013, at the end of the school year; and
WHEREAS, Germaine Graf has continually demonstrated an impressive
dedication, an unparalleled-devotion and an unremitting enthusiasm for
the quality of the educational programs and opportunities offered at
Holy Names School for the benefit of its faculty and students, as well
as for the entire community; and
WHEREAS, In completing her service as a teacher, Germaine Graf leaves
behind more than mere bricks and mortar; she leaves behind a legacy to
the Academy of the Holy Names and to future generations of its students;
now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Germaine Graf upon the occasion of her upcoming retirement and
the celebration of her 90th Birthday, and for her many significant
contributions to education in New York State; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Germaine Graf.