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Congressional Daily Record
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June 22, 2026
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Download official Extensions PDFReturn to issue contextHONORING MARTHA ANN HART CUSIMANO FOR HER CONTRIBUTIONS TO CENTRAL
FLORIDA
HON. DARREN SOTO
of florida
in the house of representatives
Monday, June 22, 2026
Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, Martha Ann Hart Cusimano was a community leader and passionate advocate for the hungry and vulnerable.
Making a difference started early with Martha. A native of Buffalo, New York, from a family deeply rooted in faith and service, she learned to swim in Lake Erie from her dad. From then on, she became a lifelong swimmer. When its waters were threatened by pollution in the 60s, she was part of a movement of Western New York women who pushed to clean them up.
Business and Marketing from DeSales University, graduating Cum Laude while raising a family and working in marketing and community relations at DeSales University and St. Luke's Hospital. At Lehigh University, she completed graduate coursework in American history, was a member of the first Leadership Bethlehem class, served as vice chair of the Bethlehem Community Foundation, was honored with the Miss Pennsylvania Woman of Achievement Award, and was one of three to receive the Bethlehem Star Award from the Burn Prevention Foundation for her work raising millions for that charity. As founder and executive director of the Greater Lehigh Valley Auto Dealers Association, she not only produced auto shows but also created a charitable foundation and helped donate millions to local charities and scholarships. She was also a charter member of the Women's Automotive Association. At Notre Dame of Bethlehem parish, she founded the School Advisory Association, served on the parish council, and was a beautiful leader of song.
As a teen, Martha met her husband, Jim, at St. Aloysius Gonzaga Parish in Buffalo. They led fundraising to build the new St. Rose of Lima Church in Kissimmee, which opened in 2017, and founded “DUO: Do Unto Others,” an initiative with Solivita neighbors, which raised over $700,000 for the food pantry in the ensuing years. The pantry provides food to over 70,000 food-insecure people annually, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. Martha also served on the board of Habitat for Humanity Osceola for eight years and worked with Osceola County to provide nine homes for people in need of affordable housing. She also testified before Members of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on the need for the Farm Bill to include aid for food pantries. For her work to help the hungry and marginalized in Central Florida, Martha was honored by Osceola County with the “Woman Warrior” Award.
She did all of this while battling breast cancer for 19 years.
with the Jesuits of America Media, and to the Marian sites of Knock, Ireland, Fatima, and Lourdes. A dual Irish American citizen, Martha's family helped build the church in Knock, Ireland, at the site of the miraculous sighting of Mary. She remained close to her Irish family, as well as to her American and Mexican family and friends.
Love and husband Richard, Theresa Cusimano, and Patricia Cusimano Gomas and husband Jeff. Martha was a proud grandmother to Megan Cusimano Hower and husband Jim, as well as Adam Cusimano and Maria, Ricky, and Ava Love. She was a loving great-grandmother to Jack and Lydia Hower and Aria Grace Cusimano, and a godmother to nieces Katie Gill and Nina Hart.
Martha died the evening of November 30, 2025, at the age of 82. She was surrounded by her husband and her four children. Among her last words were, “Gotta go to God,” and “Promise me you will complete building of the Lima Center food pantry, promise me,” true to her passions in life.