SR506: Celebrating the life of Daniel X. Sze.


SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 506
Celebrating the life of Daniel X. Sze.

 

Agreed to by the Senate, August 19, 2020

 

WHEREAS, Daniel X. Sze of Falls Church, a champion for environmentally friendly design and construction who enjoyed a long and fulfilling career in local and federal government, died on July 27, 2020; and

WHEREAS, Daniel “Dan” Sze immigrated to the United States from China in 1957 and earned degrees from Howard University, Columbia University, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; he registered as an architect in 1982 and helped design buildings in the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Area and throughout the United States; and

WHEREAS, Dan Sze worked as a foreign service officer with the U.S. Department of State, playing key roles in diplomatic missions in Cuba and throughout the Caribbean and Africa, and held procurement, construction management, and supervisory engineering positions with the U.S. Department of the Navy, including program manager at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay in Georgia; and

WHEREAS, Dan Sze joined the Department of Energy in 1991 and served as national program manager for the Rebuild America program, director of the Office of Infrastructure and Business Management Systems, and deputy director of state energy programs with the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; and

WHEREAS, over the course of his distinguished career, Dan Sze was responsible for major policy and regulatory initiatives under six United States presidents; and

WHEREAS, after his well-earned retirement from federal service, Dan Sze became a sought-after lecturer and consultant on clean energy initiatives, sustainability strategies, and international business; and

WHEREAS, Dan Sze also served the Falls Church community as vice chair of the Falls Church Economic Development Authority from 2002 through 2006 and as a member of the Board of Zoning Appeals; he was elected to multiple terms on the Falls Church City Council, serving from 2006 to 2010 and from 2014 to the time of his passing; and

WHEREAS, Dan Sze earned the admiration of his fellow council members for his quick wit, unique insights, and commitment to good stewardship of the environment; he served as the council’s liaison to the local Environmental Sustainability Council and the Urban Forestry Commission and represented the city before numerous regional boards and commissions; and

WHEREAS, during Dan Sze’s tenure, Falls Church enacted a policy requiring all renovations and new construction of city property to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards; he encouraged the installation of LED streetlights and green roofs and oversaw the city fleet’s transition to vehicles that run on biofuels; and

WHEREAS, Dan Sze will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his wife, Elisabeth; his children and their families; and numerous other family members, friends, and colleagues; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of Virginia hereby note with great sadness the loss of Daniel X. Sze, a respected public servant who made many contributions to the Falls Church community; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Daniel X. Sze as an expression of the Senate of Virginia’s respect for his memory.

SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 506

Offered August 18, 2020
Prefiled August 17, 2020
Celebrating the life of Daniel X. Sze.
Patron-- Saslaw

WHEREAS, Daniel X. Sze of Falls Church, a champion for environmentally friendly design and construction who enjoyed a long and fulfilling career in local and federal government, died on July 27, 2020; and

WHEREAS, Daniel “Dan” Sze immigrated to the United States from China in 1957 and earned degrees from Howard University, Columbia University, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; he registered as an architect in 1982 and helped design buildings in the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Area and throughout the United States; and

WHEREAS, Dan Sze worked as a foreign service officer with the U.S. Department of State, playing key roles in diplomatic missions in Cuba and throughout the Caribbean and Africa, and held procurement, construction management, and supervisory engineering positions with the U.S. Department of the Navy, including program manager at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay in Georgia; and

WHEREAS, Dan Sze joined the Department of Energy in 1991 and served as national program manager for the Rebuild America program, director of the Office of Infrastructure and Business Management Systems, and deputy director of state energy programs with the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; and

WHEREAS, over the course of his distinguished career, Dan Sze was responsible for major policy and regulatory initiatives under six United States presidents; and

WHEREAS, after his well-earned retirement from federal service, Dan Sze became a sought-after lecturer and consultant on clean energy initiatives, sustainability strategies, and international business; and

WHEREAS, Dan Sze also served the Falls Church community as vice chair of the Falls Church Economic Development Authority from 2002 through 2006 and as a member of the Board of Zoning Appeals; he was elected to multiple terms on the Falls Church City Council, serving from 2006 to 2010 and from 2014 to the time of his passing; and

WHEREAS, Dan Sze earned the admiration of his fellow council members for his quick wit, unique insights, and commitment to good stewardship of the environment; he served as the council’s liaison to the local Environmental Sustainability Council and the Urban Forestry Commission and represented the city before numerous regional boards and commissions; and

WHEREAS, during Dan Sze’s tenure, Falls Church enacted a policy requiring all renovations and new construction of city property to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards; he encouraged the installation of LED streetlights and green roofs and oversaw the city fleet’s transition to vehicles that run on biofuels; and

WHEREAS, Dan Sze will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his wife, Elisabeth; his children and their families; and numerous other family members, friends, and colleagues; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of Virginia hereby note with great sadness the loss of Daniel X. Sze, a respected public servant who made many contributions to the Falls Church community; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Daniel X. Sze as an expression of the Senate of Virginia’s respect for his memory.