LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION mourning the death of Bess Myerson, 1945 Miss
America and renowned television personality

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to acknowledge those
outstanding individuals whose professional lives and personal endeavors
served as a paradigm to the people of both the Nation and this great
Empire State; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is moved this day to record the passing
of cherished citizen Bess Myerson who died on Sunday, December 14, 2014,
at the age of 90; and
WHEREAS, Bess Myerson was born in the Bronx, New York in 1924 to immi-
grant parents; Bess Myerson was proud of her Russian-Jewish heritage,
and her upbringing in the Sholem Aleichem Cooperative Houses in the
northwest Bronx; and
WHEREAS, In 1945, at the same time the horrors of the Holocaust were
being exposed to a global audience, Ms. Myerson became the first, and to
date only, Jewish Miss America pageant winner; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Myerson refused pageant officials' request to change her
name and she continued to face anti-Semitism throughout her travels as
the Miss America Pageant winner, including the withdrawal of several
pageant sponsors, yet she persevered, representing Jewish Americans
proudly; and
WHEREAS, Bess Myerson used her status as Miss America to speak out
against prejudice, and continued to advocate throughout her life on
behalf of the Anti-Defamation League, eventually winning the Anti-Defa-
mation League's woman of the year award in 1965; and
WHEREAS, Becoming a role model for future Miss America Pageant
winners, as well as other American public figures, she parlayed her
youthful celebrity status into a position of lasting influence in the
public service; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Lindsay appointed Bess Myerson as Commissioner of the
New York City Consumer Affairs Agency in 1969, where she served for five
years; and
WHEREAS, As Commissioner of Consumer Affairs, she fought for lasting
reforms that continue to protect consumers today, including the first
city regulation in the nation requiring retailers to post unit prices on
a wide variety of products; sell-by dates on perishable food items;
banning unlicensed auto-repair shops; and even fought against the use of
baby rattles that were filled with shrapnel; and
WHEREAS, Under Ms. Myerson's leadership, the Department of Consumer
Affairs successfully banned many deceptive trade practices such as
"fresh" labels on frozen fish, restaurants selling hamburgers containing
less than 100% beef, and companies putting too many peanuts in jars that
were labeled "mixed nuts"; a record that led to her appearance on the
cover of LIFE Magazine in 1971 as "A Consumer's Best Friend"; and
WHEREAS, In 1983, Mayor Koch appointed Bess Myerson as the Commission-
er of Cultural Affairs; and
WHEREAS, She was appointed by three United States Presidents to serve
on boards relating to several issues including crime and violence,
mental health and world hunger, and workplace issues; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Myerson made a lasting contribution to New York through
her involvement in several major local, state and federal political
campaigns, including her support of Ed Koch as candidate for Mayor of
New York City which is often credited as a major reason for his victory;
Ms. Myerson also actively campaigned for Daniel Patrick Moynihan for
U.S. Senate, and Hugh Carey for Governor of New York State, helping both
candidates to victory; and

WHEREAS, Further demonstrating her political prowess, Ms. Myerson
became a candidate for U.S. Senate in 1990, eventually falling short
narrowly in the Democratic Primary; and
WHEREAS, As an author, Bess Myerson wrote books relating to Consumer
Fraud and Health, and also authored a longtime column in Redbook maga-
zine; and
WHEREAS, Having survived ovarian cancer in the 1970's, Bess Myerson
offered her support and efforts to Share, an organization that provides
free support and counseling to women with breast and ovarian cancer; and
WHEREAS, Like most individuals of her generation, Bess Myerson loved
her country and its ideals; her compassionate commitment to these ideals
and unfailing spirit will endure as an inspiration to all who had the
privilege and honor of knowing her; and
WHEREAS, A legion of friends will remember her fondly for her charm,
her public speaking persona, and her tireless dedication to public
service; and
WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Bess Myerson leaves behind a legacy which will long endure
the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all she
served and befriended; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor the life and innumerable contributions of Bess Myerson, renowned
television personality; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of Bess Myerson.