Documents
from Joan B. Lee’s Memorial Service, Friday,
Aug. 15:
- The Order of Service from the Memorial
(Word)
(PDF)
- Rev. Doug Kraft (UUSS
Minister) (Word)
(PDF)
- Arnie Godmintz (Joan's
husband) (Word)
(PDF)
- Margie Metzler (Joan's
staff and close friend) (Word)
(PDF)
- Susan Murany (Exec.
Director of anational Gray Panthers and close
friend of Joan's) (Word)
(PDF)
- Susan McKee (Staff to
Sen. Darrell Steinberg; speaking on behalf of
Sen. Steinberg and Assemblymember Dave Jones)
(Word) (PDF)
- Betty Perry (Legislative
Director of OWL-CA, Older Womean's League California,
and long-time friend and ally of Joan's) (Word)
(PDF)
- Bill Powers (Liaislative
Liaison with CARA and long-time friend, ally
and mentor of Joan's): "Arnie, the family
of Arnie and Joan:
Much has been said today about Joan Lee, her
life and and her significant contributions to
improving the lives for all in our society.
All of these bear repeating, but I will not
do that except to say "me too" on
behalf of those of us who worked with Joan and
Arnie in various organizations and movements.
Joan stepped forward and provided leadership
on so many causes it is difficult to enumerate
them all.
From affordable housing through the alphabet
to peace, transportation to worker's rights,
she was there. Joan could not ignore a social
justice issue without getting involved. What
a person!
There was a beautiful rememberance read by Rev.
Kraft to open the service. Let me close my remarks
by reading another which I believes personifies
the life of Joan.
It is entitled "Life".
Man's dearest possession is life and since it
is given to him to live but once: he must live
as to feel no torturing regrets for years without
purpose, so live as not to be seared with the
shame of a cowardly and trival past, so live
he can say: All of my life and all of my strength
were given to the finest cause in the world:
the liberation of mankind. "
- Marty Omoto (Director,
CA Disability Action Network, and close friend
of Joan's) (Word) (PDF)
-
Tribute from Congresswoman
Doris Matsui (not in the Memorial): (PDF
copy)
Joan's Passing
Our beloved leader,
Joan B. Lee, passed away Saturday, July 26, about
7:30, very peacefully and with dignity. She died
after a valiant but mercifully brief struggle with
lung cancer that had metastasized to her liver and
bones. She will be cremated and there will be a
memorial service at the Sacramento Universalist
Unitarian Church, date and time below.
Her husband Arnie thanks everyone
who was with him and Joan on this last difficult
journey. Joan had many wonderful friends and partners
in advocacy, and the cards, letters, flowers and
best wishes of all of you have been read and savored.
All of you helped Joan, Arnie and their family more
than you can know.
Remembrances: You
can of course send cards, flowers etc., but we know
that Joan's fondest wishes were for the Gray Panthers
to endure and for the causes of justice, peace,
equality, healthcare etc. to triumph. Contributions
to Gray Panthers are welcome, or participation in
advocacy and activism in her name would also have
made her happy. To contribute to the national organization,
go to www.graypanthers.org;
to contribute to the Sacramento chapter send to
Gray Panthers of Sacramento,
P.O. Box 19438, Sacramento, CA 95819. Of
course, you can also join our organization. To join
our Sacramento Gray Panthers chapter, download and
fill out the application (Word
or PDF) and
mail to P.O. Box 19438, Sacramento,
CA 95819. To send notes or good wishes to
Arnie, send to 5313 Fernwood Way, Sacramento 95841.
Please contact Margie Metzler,
916-921-5008 or margiemetz@hotmail.com
if you have questions.
Article in the Bee, July 30
Obituary: Political activist
Joan Lee was Gray Panthers leader
By Robert D. Dávila - bdavila@sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am PDT Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Story appeared in OUR REGION section, Page B5
http://www.sacbee.com/obituaries/story/1119394.html
Joan Lee, a prominent Sacramento
political activist and advocate for seniors who
was a state and national leader in Gray Panthers,
died Saturday at age 80.
The cause was lung cancer that spread to her bones
and liver, said her husband, Arnie Godmintz. Her
illness was diagnosed last week after she spent
16 days in a Sacramento hospital, he said.
Ms. Lee was active for many years in Gray Panthers,
an advocacy organization for seniors seeking social
and economic justice. She led the Sacramento chapter
and was legislative liaison for Gray Panthers California,
a statewide coalition. She served on the group's
national board in Washington.
She was ubiquitous in public and in the press as
a grass-roots organizer on progressive causes and
issues important to seniors. She carried signs at
rallies, registered new voters and collected petition
signatures. She buttonholed community leaders, politicians
and news reporters on universal health care, access
for disabled people and workers' rights.
"Joan was someone who conveyed the plight of
seniors and families and poor people in ways that
policymakers and legislators could understand,"
said Assemblyman Dave Jones, D-Sacramento. "She
had a real grasp of facts and figures and policy,
but she was very effective at putting a human face
on issues."
Ms. Lee was widely respected at the state Capitol
for her expertise in gerontology and for building
political alliances with other groups, especially
disability advocates. She spoke at hearings on health
care reform, nursing homes and accessible transportation.
She spearheaded efforts to pass legislation requiring
University of California medical schools to fully
integrate geriatrics into the three-year curriculum.
"Joan was very passionate about the issues
that she fought for," said state Sen. Darrell
Steinberg, D-Sacramento. "She was very kind,
but in terms of her advocacy, she was very tough.
She held friend and foe accountable for the decisions
we make in public life."
Ms. Lee was involved in politics and civic issues
in suburban Sacramento County with her husband,
a longtime Democratic Party activist. She was legislative
chairwoman of the Town & Country Democratic
Club and a member of the Older Women's League.
Joan Barbara Wilson was born in 1927 and reared
in the Chicago area. She studied music in college,
married and spent much of her life raising four
children. Her first marriage ended in divorce, and
she married Godmintz in 1980.
She graduated from the gerontology department at
American River College and earned a bachelor's degree
in communication from Sacramento State at age 57.
She started the Robertson Adult Day Care Center
and worked at the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment
Agency. She wrote and directed a video about common
experiences of adults with disabilities and seniors.
Ms. Lee was an accomplished cellist and oil painter.
She wrote poetry and was an avid birdwatcher during
hikes in the Sierra Nevada.
She believed seniors were getting "a raw deal"
in society but had power in numbers and political
activism to make changes, Godmintz said. Her role
model was Maggie Kuhn, who founded the Gray Panthers
after she was forced to retire from work at age
65.
"Joan was a firm believer in 'use it or lose
it,' " her husband said.”She didn't want
to sit around and watch the boob tube. She felt
seniors should get out and get busy."
About the writer:
Call The Bee's Robert D. Dávila, (916) 321-1077.
Remembrances: You can of course
send cards, flowers etc., but we know that Joan's
fondest wishes were for the Gray Panthers to endure
and for the causes of justice, peace, equality,
healthcare to triumph. Contributions to Gray Panthers
are welcome, or participation in advocacy and activism
in her name would also have made her happy. To contribute
to the national organization, go to www.graypanthers.org;
to contribute to the Sacramento chapter send to
Gray Panthers of Sacramento, P.O. Box 19438, Sacramento,
CA 95819. Of course, you can also join our organization.
To send notes or good wishes to Arnie, send to 5313
Fernwood Way, Sacramento 95841.
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