Page 3 - Retiree News Spring 2021

Union mourning loss of former Local 952 President Joan Reinhart
CSEA is mourning the loss of
former Florida State North Local 952 President Joan Reinhart, who passed away on Feb. 20, 2021. She
Reinhart
founding member of Local 952. “There were enough [CSEA
retiree members] in the northern part of Florida that [our union] asked for a few volunteers who wanted to be officers to start
out this new union,” Reinhart told the Retiree News in 2019. “I volunteered and became the 1st Vice President of Local 952.”
Reinhart
served as the
local’s 1st Vice
President before
becoming Local
President in 2019.
She stepped down
from the office in
late 2020. In her
leadership roles,
Reinhart became
active in political
action efforts,
including those to
elect candidates
who support
labor, as well as
protecting retirement security such as defined-benefit pensions, Social Security and Medicare.
“Joan was an energetic, and enthusiastic CSEA leader who always gave her best to the Union,” said CSEA Florida State North Local 952 President Kathryn Albowitz. “Everyone in Local 952 will miss
her leadership, insights and her infectious laughter.”
“Joan Reinhart was one of the first retiree officers I connected with when I began my position
as retiree program specialist at CSEA,” said Christine Meehan, the union’s Retiree Program Specialist. “We had the opportunity to work together closely and we became
good friends. She was a wonderful mentor and a strong leader. Over the years, she offered
me support, advice and her friendship. Joan was easy to talk to, funny and quick-witted. She had a no-nonsense approach to life, but was always kind, humble and gracious. She was
a strong woman dedicated to her family and friends and passionate about her union work. I am grateful to have been able to work with her in her role as a CSEA union officer and, more importantly to have called her a friend. My condolences to her family and many friends. I will miss her dearly.”
As a retiree activist in Florida, Reinhart not only fought for retirement security on behalf of CSEA members, but for all union members and retirees. In addition to CSEA, she was an active member of the Florida Alliance for Retired Americans (FLARA). Reinhart had received a President’s Lifetime Achievement Award from FLARA
in 2019 for her work on behalf of retired union members.
“For many years, Joan has served on FLARA’s Executive Board as one of our Trustees,” said FLARA President Bill Sauers, “Joan was a retired member of AFSCME in New York and continued to serve AFSCME here in Florida as a retiree leader and organizer. For me personally, Joan’s counsel was invaluable and her dedication to helping retirees live with comfort and dignity is inspiring. We offer condolences to Joan’s family and want them to know how much she was truly loved. Thank you, Joan, for wonderful memories.”
Reinhart was also active in the Citrus County, Fla. Democratic Party; her church and numerous community organizations, including the League of Women’s Voters and the Women’s March. She is survived by her sister; her children and grandchildren.
“Joan was a dedicated advocate for working people and an exceptional leader of the Retiree Division. Above all, she was
a kind and generous person who loved her family and her Union. She will be missed by all who knew her.”
was 83.
Reinhart, who had helped found
Local 952 and served as a member of CSEA’s Retiree Executive Committee, worked endlessly to safeguard retirement security.
“Joan was a dedicated advocate for working people and an exceptional leader of the Retiree Division,” CSEA President Mary E. Sullivan said. “Above all, she was a kind and generous person who loved her family and her Union. She will be missed by all who knew her.”
Originally from Wantagh, Nassau County, Reinhart had worked at Nassau University Medical Center as the assistant to the hospital’s chief of Pathology. She retired from the hospital in 1996 and soon moved to Florida.
When CSEA formed a new local for retirees living in northern Florida in 2003, Reinhart became a
CSEA mourns loss of former Capital Region activist Mead
PALM HARBOR, FL — CSEA
is saddened
to report
the passing
of longtime Capital Region activist C. Allen “Al” Mead.
“Al was
a dedicated
leader and a
true advocate of the members. He will be missed,” said CSEA President Mary E. Sullivan.
Mead previously served as
president of CSEA’s Capital Region, a position he assumed when former Region President Joseph McDermott was elevated to the statewide Executive Vice President office in 1983. Mead went on to serve as Capital Region President for 10 years.
He worked for the New York State Health Department since 1970 and served as CSEA Local President there for 10 years.
In 1979, he became the Capital Region 1st Vice President. He held numerous other positions within CSEA, including serving on
various local, region and statewide committees. He completed the Labor Studies Program at Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations.
After retiring, Mead moved to Palm Harbor, Fla. and was a member of the Florida State Retirees West Local.
McDermott, who served as CSEA’s President from 1988-1994, served alongside Mead for many years and said he would miss someone he considered more than an activist.
“Al wasn't just a fellow CSEA
officer; he was a best friend,” McDermott said. “He never failed to be on the correct side of an issue. He had great disdain for middle management, who he
felt was always trying to protect their backsides rather than our members. Al absolutely loved
the Lake Placid region and professional baseball and was an avid sports memorabilia collector. We had many a good time together.”
— Mark M. Kotzin
Mead, circa 1989
SPRING 2021
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