OJJDP News @ a Glance - March/April 2018

Tributes To Dennis Mondoro

Dennis Mondoro.

Photo courtesy of Mr. Mondoro’s family.

Karen J. Bachar, OJJDP Senior Policy Advisor: "I will miss him for his commitment to this nation’s children and his dry sense of humor. I knew who to chat with when I needed a laugh. May all who loved him find peace."
Jeff Gersh, OJJDP Deputy Associate Administrator: "My deepest and most sincere condolences to the Mondoro family. Dennis was one of the kindest most generous people I have ever had the opportunity to know and work with. On countless occasions, Dennis would stop by my office to check in and chat and see how I was doing (always personally first and professionally second). At any point when the conversation would get too difficult, I could count on Dennis to flash his trademark smirk and then wiggle his ears…and it never failed to make me laugh. To Jake and Jenna, please know that your father talked about you constantly, was extremely proud of you and loved you both dearly. He will be missed by all. I will continue to keep you all in my thoughts and prayers."
Dave Kuker, Iowa Department of Human Rights, Division of Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning: "He was here on a compliance visit one fall in the late '90s. We were on the road to Atlantic, IA. We were engaged in verbose discussion regarding the overall superiority of Iowa corn. We stopped the state car and I sent him into a corn field. He grabbed an ear and took it back in his luggage; he was going to give it to his kids as a souvenir. Every time I saw him thereafter, I reminded him of it. He laughed; we laughed."
Theresa Lay-Sleeper, Juvenile Justice Specialist, Vermont Department for Children and Families Commissioner’s Office: "Holding you all in light and love. Dennis—that grin. That’s all."
Laurel S. Marks, Manager, Juvenile Services Section, Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services: "When we were at the National Conference in Nashville, Dennis and I went for a run. My recollection was that we weren’t going very far because he had a flight to catch, so we didn’t bring any water. We got totally lost, and ended up running far longer than we intended. We went in desperation to a Burger King to get water, and then somehow found ourselves running on the highway in an attempt to get back to the hotel. We were gone so much longer than intended that he missed his flight."
Adam Spector, Office of Justice Programs (OJP) Congressional Affairs Specialist: "On behalf of the staff of OJP's Office of Communications, our deepest sympathies to Dennis' friends and family. Dennis was always great to work with. He responded quickly and thoroughly to our many information requests. More importantly, he was simply a good, decent and kind person. He took his work seriously without taking himself seriously. Dennis had a wonderful sense of humor. He will be sorely missed."
John A. Tuell, Executive Director, Robert F. Kennedy National Resource Center for Juvenile Justice, Robert F. Kennedy Children’s Action Corps: "I had the privilege of working with Dennis during his tenure in the Fairfax County Juvenile Court and he was good at what he did. In fact, after I joined OJJDP in 1996, I encouraged him to join me and am blessed with the memories from his choice to come aboard. We partnered in leading the Comprehensive Strategy, which resulted in a 3-year technical assistance frenzy in sites all over the country. We shared an incredible enthusiasm for these opportunities during a mutual period of personal transition. With our passion for that which we cared most about, including running and our kids, the memories of our intensity from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. will never be forgotten. I always enjoyed that we were on the same side. The recent 3-year period of working together again reminded me of the special value of his friendship. Dennis was a really good man! Along with legions of others, I will miss him mightily."