ALBANY — CSEA recently paid tribute to one of our Central Region’s longtime activists, Dorothy Breen.
Dorothy Breen
Breen’s name now joins those of other departed CSEA activists whose names are featured on the John M. Harris Memorial Plaque located in the front vestibule as you enter our union’s Albany Headquarters.
Breen died in September 2015 after a 44-year career of dedicated service to our union, first as an activist member working in Oneida County, and then as a CSEA employee for many years. Prior to her retirement, Dorothy most recently served as CSEA’s staff liaison to our Retiree Division membership.
She was nominated for recognition on the Memorial Plaque by CSEA Region President Colleen Wheaton and the Region 5 Executive Board. Wheaton and other Region activists joined other friends of Dorothy’s in placing her name on the plaque.
From her nomination:
“To say that Dorothy went “above and beyond” in her dedication to CSEA would be a vast understatement. Dorothy was truly an activist’s activist, and her selfless devotion to her union, her co-workers and her friends was beyond measure.
Dorothy was active at every level of her union – Unit, Local, Region, Statewide, International — for decades. When she retired in 2011, she ended a 44-year union career which began when she started as an activist while working as a bookkeeping machine operator for the Oneida County Department of Social Services.
Dorothy was not only a passionate activist in her union, she was a leader, mentor, sister, resource, teacher, helper, mother and friend. She was a dedicated political activist and worked hard to make changes for the betterment of our members. She deserves to be honored with this fitting award in tribute to her decades of service.”
L-R: Central Region Activists Chantalise DeMarco, Ken Greenleaf, Colleen Wheaton, Kathy Zabinski and Karen Bright all stand in front of the Memorial Plaque bearing Dorothy Breen’s name. Photo credit: Emily Cote.
