An amazing person is no longer with us. Last night, Merrilee Milstein passed away in Chicago where she had been celebrating her daughter’s wedding; over these past many months, she had been battling a second bout of cancer when an infection she picked up proved too much to fend off.

    I am just one of many people who are mourning her loss today–she had a wide circle of people throughout the labor movement and progressive politics, particularly in Connecticut where she lived, who loved her, respected her and drew energy from her spirit, her passion, her integirty and her humanity. A lot of people will recall the intense strategizing, brainstorming and grappling with the future of progressive politics that were a daily part of her life, from her days at 1199 on to the roles she played with the AFL-CIO (in her last capacity with the Federation, she was the deputy director of the Northeast Region) and, then, having decided that the labor movement didn’t know how to really build and manage organizations, she went through a rigorous training program and became an organizational consultant to try to fix some of the consistent dysfunctions in the movement she loved.

    I’m on board with those memories, too. But, for me, I am going to miss laughing with her and gossiping about the left (often, in past months, via cellphone as she was making a stop at Starbucks for something or other with skimmed milk…I think)–she loved being a progressive but she could also see the goofiness and contradictions swirling around the very movement she was a part of. And, heeding Emma Goldman’s admonition, I can personally attest to the fact that, yes, Merrilee would hit the dance floor, too.

    Damn it.

    Please, feel free to post your thoughts and memories about our wonderful friend.

He was a friend of mine

He was a friend of mine

Every time I think about him now

Lord I just can’t keep from cryin’

‘Cause he was a friend of mine