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Archive for category Memorial

Labor community mourns the passing of Professor David Montgomery

Dec 29

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– GNH Labor History Association (Administrator)

Professor David Montgomery passed away on Dec. 2, 2011 at the age of 84. He was a life member of the Greater New Haven Labor History Association and one of its earliest members and biggest boosters. We are shocked and saddened at the news of his leaving us. Truly, his like will not come again.

David began his career as a union organizer while working as a machinist in various shops in Minnesota and New York. He was fired from a number of jobs because of his activism and turned to academia, earning his master’s and doctoral degrees in history from the University of Minnesota. His dissertation, Beyond Equality: Labor and the Radical Republicans 1862-1872, was published as a book in 1967. Several other books followed, including the highly influential Workers’ Control in America and The Fall of the House of Labor: The Workplace, the State and American Labor Activism. 1865-1925. In his writing and his teaching, he not only told the story of labor struggles, he painted vivid pictures of workers’ lives on the job.

David taught first at the University of Pittsburgh and then at Yale University, where he became Farnam Professor of History. At both universities, he earned teaching awards. He began at Yale in the late 1970’s and with his wife Martel, became part of the fabric of life at Yale and in the broader New Haven community. Known as a rigorous proponent of the “new labor history,” David remained an advocate for the struggles and aspirations of workers, supporting Yale’s clerical workers in their 1984 strike and the effort of the Graduate Employee Student Organization at Yale to achieve recognition as a graduate student workers union.

The Executive Board and staff of the Greater New Haven Labor History Association extend our deepest sympathy to David’s widow, Martel Montgomery, and to his sons and their families.

There will be a public memorial service for David Montgomery on Saturday, Jan. 28 at Battell Chapel, New Haven, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. with the Rev. Frederick J Streets officiating.

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Remembering Jim Welbourne, Aug. 10, 1942-Aug. 22, 2011

Oct 4

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– Kathie Hurley, New Haven Free Public Library

If you met Jim Welbourne on the streets of New Haven, at the table of many community organizations, in the hall-ways of local institutions or in the heart of New Haven’s Public Library, you met the same “civic engager” that helped shape and lead our public library into the 21st Century!

City Librarian for ten years (2000-2010), Jim also assumed the role of Executive Director for the library’s 501c(3) in 2004: a role in which he successfully directed a Capital Campaign that raised a million dollars for the first new library branch built in New Haven since 1968. The Courtland Seymour Wilson Branch opened October 2, 2006, restoring library services to a neighborhood that hadn’t had access in 40 years. It was a historic day for New Haven and a day that Jim defined as the pinnacle of his library career.

Jim wasn’t always engaged “in” the traditional library field. From early days as a student page in Baltimore’s Pratt Library to a master’s degree in Urban Information, he was always steeped in “information sciences” as a community change agent. He worked in Washington, DC and Baltimore as a business development consultant and directed a Development Corporation from 1971-1986 when he returned to the library field as Assistant Director for Branch and District services for the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. In 1993, he became Deputy Director of the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore where he served for six years before arriving in New Haven with his wife Penny, a Yale University librarian, in 2000.

Jim’s local Board Memberships, community involvement, awards and collaborations spoke to the depth and breadth of his passion. From the Amistad Board to LEAP, from Arts & Ideas to Long Wharf Theatre, from Community Foundation to Community Mediation, from Read-to-Grow to New Haven READS — the list is endless of all the community organizations that mined his creative ideas, relied upon his generous trust and transparency, and employed his gifts for civic engagement, all of which encouraged and empowered people.

The New Haven Community will come together to celebrate Jim’s life on Sunday, Oct. 2 from 3-6 p.m. at the Wilson Branch Library, 303 Washington Avenue. All are invited to share stories and remembrances. If you would like to write something for the Remembrance Booklet to be distributed on that day, please e-mail: kathienhct@gmail.com.

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Reed Smith, Leader For Social Justice

Aug 31

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– Joelle Fishman, People’s World

Reed loved life, and he loved people. He brought good cheer everywhere. He also brought principled ideas and he stood behind them. War, racism and injustice were unacceptable for Reed.

Reed Smith, peace and civil rights activist, died July 21 at age 86.

Reed Smith, peace and civil rights activist, died July 21 at age 86.

Born and raised in Connecticut, he worked as an economist in Waterbury. He helped form the first integrated housing development in Waterbury in the 1950s. He marched with Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. from Selma to Montgomery in 1965. During the Vietnam War he counseled draftees about conscience objection. In the 1980s he helped found a soup kitchen.

In New Haven since 1991, Reed was a Tax the Rich candidate for State Representative and founding member of the Coalition to End Child Poverty. As director of Interfaith Cooperative Ministries (ICM), he initiated an inter-racial dialog and an annual service on Martin Luther King’s birthday. He served on the City of New Haven Peace Commission for a decade.

When he and Marty moved to New Haven, they quickly became a part of the Peoples Center family. Reed loved having a center for social justice around the corner from where they lived. The Peoples Center became a place where he could trade ideas, discuss tactics around local struggles, and exchange experiences.

When she became ill, Reed devoted himself to wife Marty, whom he married while in the service during WWII. He loved music and was an avid reader. He took part in countless activities on behalf of workers’ rights, human rights, civil rights and peace.

No one could miss Reed with his dapper outfits and peace sign pendant. Whenever dinner was served at an event at the Peoples Center, Reed would offer to bring one of his specialties. Usually it was his delicious baked beans, or his fabulous brownies. If there was a friend in need he was always there.

Reed was widely known and loved for his perseverance, optimism, vision and generosity. He will be greatly missed by his four children, grandchildren, large extended family, his comrades in the Alert Seniors Club of the Communist Party and everyone whose lives he touched. His work for economic and social justice and peace, his friendship, generosity and humor live on.

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In Memory Of Anna Aschenbach

Jan 29

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By PAR Planning Committee

Anna Aschenbach (Photo: Henry Lowendorf)

PAR readers will remember that last month’s PAR newsletter featured Anna Aschenbach, who was being awarded the 2011 Dr. Alice Hamilton Award for Peace and Freedom on Jan. 22, 2011, at the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom/New Haven County Branch ceremony. Her nephew Jack Mills and his wife Ellen were there, along with about forty friends to congratulate her on being awarded for her life-long work for justice and peace. 

During the ceremony, Anna had a stroke. Emergency help came quickly, and Anna insisted on remaining at the event (while receiving treatment) as Ellen read her acceptance speech for her. She was then brought to the Hospital of St. Raphael and passed on at 8 a.m. Jan. 23.

Our condolences to her daughter Karen Aschenbach and her son Michael Aschenbach, and all the rest of her family. All who knew Anna, worked with her, walked picket lines and went to rallies with her, laughed with her and went to meetings with her, join them in their sorrow on her passing.

A memorial for Anna will be held on Saturday, Feb. 5th from 2-5 p.m. in the Great Hall of United Church Parish House, 323 Temple St., followed by a potluck gathering. Please contact Caroline Bridgman-Rees at (203) 387-1444 for further details.

Anna was a founding member of PAR, and for many years was the proofreader for the PAR newsletter. She was deeply caring and loved humanity. She had a vibrant intellect, was a passionate peace activist, a staunch war tax resister and a fierce believer in justice, civil rights and the possibility for a better world.  She would often remind us that we all bear the responsibility to help bring that better world into being.

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In Memoriam … Lillian Dimow, 1916-2010

Dec 29

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On Nov. 25, 2010, longtime PAR reader and supporter, Lil Dimow, passed on. The PAR Planning Committee extends our condolences to her husband Joe and all their family. Lil was a lifelong activist who was devoted to her family and her community. She was a member of Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, volunteered with many peace organizations, edited the newsletter of the West River Senior Center and taught arts and crafts and enamel jewelry in the New Haven public schools, several senior centers and other community programs.

Lil grew up in a world of Jewish immigrants and their first generation children, many of whom had deep ethical principles and a commitment to trying to make the world a better place. She carried those values with her throughout her life. It was important to her to treat every person she met with dignity and respect. On a larger scale, she followed world events and was deeply moved by injustice. She was an activist and had a lifelong commitment to social movements for peace, civil liberties, women’s rights and justice.  — The New Haven Register

Lil will be greatly missed. We are grateful to have been part of her community and thank her for all she accomplished to make the world better.

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This issue dedicated to Ruth Emerson

Jun 1

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This issue is dedicated to Ruth Emerson, long-time New Haven activist and humanitarian, who passed away on April 25 at Connecticut Hospice in Branford. The PAR Planning Committee gives our sincere condolences to her family and friends. In addition to being a PAR subscriber, for many years she was a PAR proofreader. All who knew Ruth will greatly miss her. Her intelligence coupled with her fierce sense of justice and sense of humor made her a most remarkable activist and a wonderful friend and colleague in the struggle for a more peaceful and just world.

Please join family and friends for a memorial service on June 26 at 2 p.m. at The People’s Center,

37 Howe St. New Haven. For information, contact Sherman Malone (203) 675-4770. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Haiti Marycare, Inc., 55 King St., Danbury, CT 06811 or Defending Dissent, 1100 Wayne Ave. #1020, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

George Fishman: A Life With A Purpose

Nov 20

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– By Joelle Fishman, CPUSA

A memorial celebration of the life of George M. Fishman took place Sunday, Sept. 6 at the New Haven People’s Center, 37 Howe St. at 2 p.m. A lifelong working class scholar, teacher and activist, George passed away peacefully at home on June 30, at age 92.

Since they moved to New Haven 13 years ago, George and wife Edie have been active participants in the labor movement and community for peace and justice.

Born to immigrant parents in Philadelphia on January 6, 1917, George earned a PhD in history from Temple University.  From 1938 to 1941, he worked in a Works Projects Administration (WPA) teaching unit that pioneered in African American life, history and culture. During World War II, he served as a radio-man aboard a Landing Ship Medium in the Pacific and was awarded four medals.  He then taught social studies, history and mathematics in the public secondary schools of Philadelphia and in New Jersey.

In 1952 during the McCarthy period, he lost his teaching position in the general purge of progressives, including Communists, labor activists and civil rights advocates, from public life.  He worked at Campbell’s Soup in Camden, NJ, and became a union shop steward and leader of Local 80A, United Packinghouse Workers of America, CIO, for eight years.  He returned to teach in Philadelphia in 1968, when the school system repudiated past discriminatory practices and all teachers were invited back.

In 1985 living in Highland Park, NJ, he was a candidate for Governor of New Jersey on the Communist Party ticket, highlighting the needs of public education, especially of multiracial urban schools.  In 1994, George and Edie received the Ida B. Wells Community Service Award from the NAACP.

On his 90th birthday in 2007, George wrote, “The turning point in my life was registered some 70 years ago when in a time of world crisis with the advance of fascism and the decay of economic and social conditions in the U.S., I was able to become a member of the Young Communist League.

“It was not only that through the Young Communist League I met my comrade in arms Edie and that we have continued arm in arm over these years. But through the Young Communist League and the Communist Party I was able to become part of the working class movement…for employment, for peace, in the struggle against racism and the struggle against fascism.”

George lived an exemplary life with a purpose. He is survived by wife Edie, daughter Joelle and son-in-law Arthur Perlo. Messages and contributions to the People’s Weekly World or the New Haven Peoples Center in George’s name can be sent to: Edie Fishman, 120-M Wooster St., New Haven 06511 or call (203)772-1992.