LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION mourning the death of Connie Kopelov, women's
labor educator and LGBT advocate

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to honor and pay trib-
ute to those individuals whose dedicated public service and advocacy
have contributed to the well-being of their community and the entire
State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Connie Kopelov passed away on Saturday, May 28, 2016, in New
York City, at the age of 90; and
WHEREAS, Connie Kopelov was born on April 14, 1926, in Kokomo, India-
na, to Russian Jewish parents who immigrated to the United States; and
WHEREAS, At the time of her death and for many decades prior, Connie
Kopelov was a resident of Manhattan; and
WHEREAS, Connie Kopelov earned a bachelor's degree from Northwestern
University and a master's degree from Goddard College for her thesis
"Trade Union Women and Women's Rights"; and
WHEREAS, In the 1950s, Connie Kopelov served as the Executive Director
of the New York City Freedom Agenda, addressing issues of civil liber-
ties; and
WHEREAS, Connie Kopelov worked tirelessly throughout her career to
advocate on behalf of organized labor and to better recognize women's
labor; and
WHEREAS, Connie Kopelov taught courses on women's labor history at
Cornell University and New York University; and
WHEREAS, Among the numerous positions Connie Kopelov held were the
Associate National Education Director for the Amalgamated Clothing Work-
ers of America, the Director of Education for the National Union of
Hospital and Health Care Employees, and the Vice President of the New
York City Chapter of the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW); and
WHEREAS, Connie Kopelov's work has been recognized and honored with
the National Organization for Women's New York City Chapter Susan B.
Anthony Award, as well as the New York Labor History Association's John
Commerford Labor Education Award; and
WHEREAS, While working at Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders
(SAGE), Connie Kopelov met Phyllis Siegel who would later be her wife;
and
WHEREAS, Connie Kopelov and Phyllis Siegel were partners for 23 years
before being able to legally marry; and
WHEREAS, On July 24, 2011, Connie Kopelov and Phyllis Siegel became
the first same sex couple to be legally married in New York City; and
WHEREAS, In 2012 Connie Kopelov and Phyllis Siegel served as the Grand
Marshals for the New York City Pride Parade; and
WHEREAS, Connie Kopelov is survived by her wife, Phyllis Siegel, and
her sister, Deborah Dorosin; and
WHEREAS, Connie Kopelov will be missed by her family and all who knew
her, and the mark she left on all of our lives will never leave; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of Connie Kopelov; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of Connie Kopelov.