LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION celebrating the life and accomplishments of Ruth
Proskauer Smith, distinguished citizen and devoted member of her commu-
nity

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens of the State of New York whose lifework and civic endeavor
served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and the great
State of New York; and
WHEREAS, A crusader on issues of cradle and grave, Ruth Proskauer
Smith of New York City passed away on January 22, 2010 at the age of
102; and
WHEREAS, Born on August 14, 1907, in Deal, New Jersey, to Joseph M.
Proskauer and Alice Naumburg, Ruth Proskauer Smith grew up in Manhattan
where she attended the Ethical Culture Fieldston School; in 1921, she
earned her Bachelor's degree from Radcliffe College; two years later,
she received a Master of Fine Arts in medieval art from Radcliffe; and
WHEREAS, Blazing a trail of activism throughout her life, Ruth Pros-
kauer Smith began her involvement in the family planning and abortion
rights movement as a field worker for the Planned Parenthood League of
Massachusetts (1946-1948); she served there as Executive Secretary
(1949-1953) until she moved to New York and became administrator of the
family planning service at Mount Sinai Hospital (1953-1955); and
WHEREAS, Ruth Proskauer Smith has held high positions with several
national reproductive rights organizations; she has served as Executive
Director of the Human Betterment Association for Voluntary Sterilization
as well as the Association for the Study of Abortion; in 1967, Ruth
Proskauer Smith helped organize the National Association for the Repeal
of Abortion Laws; with the 1973 Supreme Court ruling on Roe v. Wade, the
organization was renamed the National Abortion Rights Action League
(NARAL); and
WHEREAS, Ruth Proskauer Smith worked for the liberalization of
abortion laws in New York State, first with New Yorkers for Abortion Law
Repeal and then with the Committee for the Cook-Leichter Bill, which
advocated for a bill to declare that abortion is a matter to be decided
by a woman and her physician; the bill, which preceded Roe v. Wade, was
enacted in 1970; and
WHEREAS, In addition, appalled by her mother's painful death in 1959,
Ruth Proskauer Smith became a leading advocate for voluntary euthanasia,
becoming at the age of 90 a prominent strategist in the campaign that
culminated in the passage of Oregon's right-to-die law in 1997; she was
a Board member and Officer of the Euthanasia Society of America and the
Society for the Right to Die; and
WHEREAS, For the past two decades prior to her death, Ruth Proskauer
Smith led a regular seminar on the Supreme Court at Quest, an educa-
tional program for retired professionals affiliated with the Center for
Worker Education of the City College of New York; and
WHEREAS, Ruth Proskauer Smith is survived by her son, Anthony, and her
daughter, Gael, as well as by six grandchildren and seven great-grand-
children; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
celebrate the life and accomplishments of Ruth Proskauer Smith, distin-
guished citizen and devoted member of her community; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of Ruth Proskauer Smith.