1941-2007
|
|
1941-2007 |
Susan Ellen Holleran, 66, a long-time
union member and activist, died of cancer Dec. 15 at the Capital Hospice in
Arlington, VA Dedicated to empowering and helping others, Susan championed
worker and women’s rights, economic justice, and peace.
Susan
was the founding director of the United Labor Agency, a labor social service
agency specializing in providing information and referral services, and
developing needed programs for Washington D.C. area union members and their
families. She also coordinated the first national conference on pay equity which
resulted in the founding of the National Committee on Pay Equity in
1979.
In 1982, she became an assistant editor in the Public Affairs department of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. She covered news from AFSCME affiliates in 15 states and topics of national interest for the International Union’s magazine, formerly named Public Employee.
In 2005, Susan was named
the recipient of the Max Steinbock Award, the top media prize of the
International Labor Communications Association. Her Public Employee
article, “Health Care on
Life Support,” examined the
nation’s health care crisis through the eyes of two workers on strike at the
University of Minnesota who could not afford the health care premiums the school
demanded. The Steinbock Award
honors
an outstanding journalistic effort that explores an issue of concern to working
families.
She also served as a steward for the United Staff Union
which represents AFSCME's professional staff.
Susan was a founding member of the Coalition of Labor
Union Women (CLUW) – established in 1974.
She was elected to its original National executive Board. Susan also
served as CLUW’s first Mid-Atlantic regional vice president, chaired its
Education Committee, served as chapter president and vice president for the
Washington, D.C. area, and also served as the D.C. state vice president and DC
alternate state vice president.
In retirement,
Susan volunteered at CLUW’s national office in Washington where she assisted the
executive director with various responsibilities, including writing articles for
the CLUW News. The most recent
pieces featured members serving as role models for advancement. Susan also volunteered on CLUW’s Cervical
Cancer Prevention Works project, where she wrote materials and conducted
trainings. In May 2006, she represented CLUW at the Food and Drug Administration’s Vaccines and
Related Biological Products Advisory Committee Meeting, testifying in support of the Human Papillomavirus
vaccine.
This October, at
the CLUW national convention, Susan received the Clara Day
Award, one of organization’s highest honors. The award is given to a state CLUW
leader for inspiring and educating women to increase participation within
their unions, CLUW and the labor movement; promoting and encouraging
participation of women in their unions and the labor movement; seeking to
promote unionism; and encouraging unions to be more aggressive in their efforts
to organize women.
Part of Susan’s living legacy is a resolution she wrote
that the DC CLUW chapter submitted to the 2007 CLUW convention. The resolution
was adopted and called on CLUW to "make
health care issues a cornerstone of its ongoing work" and actively help educate
women about issues like the organization’s
Cervical Cancer Prevention Works program."
She served on the board of the International Labor
Communications Association and was its secretary-treasurer.
She
was also co‑author (with Jehane Dyllan) of Silkwood, a one‑woman play based on the
life of Oil,
Chemical, & Atomic Workers International Union safety
and health activist Karen Silkwood – one of Susan’s union
heroines.
Susan was a member of the DC Labor Chorus. In 2003, she appeared in the labor, jazz
opera, Forgotten: Murder at the Ford Rouge Plant.
|
Susan was predeceased by her husband Daniel Brewster in
May 2001. She leaves
a brother, Thomas Holleran (Patricia) , and her sister Mary Beth Clark and a number
of nieces, nephews and step-children and
step-grandchildren.
In addition to her deep commitment to the labor movement,
Susan will be remembered for her great generosity. She contributed regularly to
organizations in which she believed, sent gifts to the children of co-workers
serving in Iraq and cards to people who were ill. She financed her own trips –
and the trips of others – to CLUW events. At AFSCME, Susan is fondly remembered
for the birthday parties she hosted for each of her co-workers on each of their
birthdays.
“I expect to pass through this world but once; any good thing therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now; let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again." Had he known her when he wrote those words, the 19th Century philosopher Etienne De Grellet could have been speaking of Susan Ellen Holleran. Her good work will live on, touching future generations. Her kind heart and generous spirit will be missed for years to come.
A memorial will be held on Thursday, at 11: a.m. on December 27, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 2430 K St., NW. Contributions in her memory can be made to either of the following::
Coalition of Labor Union Women,
815 16th St., NW,
Washington, DC 20006
Capital
Hospice Halquist Memorial Inpatient Center
4715 North 15th
Steet
Arlington, VA 22205
