Senate Resolution No. 840

BY: Senator KENNEDY

MOURNING the death of Bernadette Hoppe, lifelong
activist, college professor and dedicated member of
her community

WHEREAS, There are certain outstanding members of our community who,
through their selfless commitment and dedication, have served to better
the quality of life in our community and have had a measurable positive
impact on the lives of its residents; Bernadette Hoppe was one such
individual; and

WHEREAS, Bernadette Hoppe, of Buffalo, New York, a longtime attorney
and college professor, who produced a television show and documentaries,
and edited a magazine for women, passed away on March 1, 2019, at the
age of 54; and

WHEREAS, Bernadette Hoppe, affectionately known to many as Berni,
was born in Poughkeepsie, New York; five days after graduating from Pine
Bush High School, she entered the United States Army Reserve intending
to enroll in medical school, but, for her, the military was not a good
fit; and

WHEREAS, In 1983, Bernadette Hoppe moved to Buffalo and earned all
her college degrees from the University at Buffalo; she completed her
bachelor's in psychology and women's studies in 1987, master's in
American/women's studies in 1990, juris doctor cum laude from the UB
School of Law in 2003, and master's in public health from the UB School
of Social and Preventative Medicine in 2006; and

WHEREAS, Bernadette Hoppe distinguished herself in her profession
and by her sincere dedication and substantial contribution to the
welfare of her community; and

WHEREAS, This remarkable woman preferred to work with poor and
underserved individuals and communities, particularly women with
substance use disorders and pregnancies; her work in the field of
HIV/AIDS was focused on women; and

WHEREAS, Early in her career, Bernadette Hoppe was a counselor at
Haven House, then at Erie County Medical Center; she was the Marketing
Manager and the Managed Care Administrator for the Geneva B. Scruggs
Community Health Center, before accepting the position of Coordinator
for Community Action for Prenatal Care; and

WHEREAS, Bernadette Hoppe started work as an adjunct instructor at
UB in 1987; she also taught at SUNY Brockport and Old Dominion
University in Norfolk, Virginia; in 2006, she began teaching at the UB
law school; and

WHEREAS, Starting in 1988, Bernadette Hoppe was host and producer of
the 100-episode public access television show "Focus on Women"; in 1995,
she co-founded Women's Gifts, an annual one-day market event, and in
1997, she became editor of the magazine her; she was also a player in
"Ladies of the Lake" satirical theater troupe; and


WHEREAS, In 2004, she founded the law practice of Hoppe & Associates
Inc., which specialized in family law, especially for same-sex couples;
and

WHEREAS, In 2012, Bernadette Hoppe met her wife-to-be, Mary Van
Volkenburg, on a beach at Windmill Point, Ontario, and the couple
married on May 12, 2014; and

WHEREAS, Bernadette Hoppe's commitment to excellence, and her spirit
of humanity, carried over into all fields of enterprise, including
charitable and civic endeavors; and

WHEREAS, She was a board member of Neighborhood Legal Services,
Squeaky Wheel, Northwest Community Health Center, New York State
Perinatal Association and the Brazen Faced Varlets theater group; and

WHEREAS, In 1995, Bernadette Hoppe received a Women Helping Women
Award from the Buffalo chapter of the National Organization for Women;
she was named Divorce Attorney of the Year by the Volunteer Lawyers
Project in 2013, and in 2014, was named both the Assigned Counsel
Program's Family Court Attorney of the Year and the Women Lawyers
Association's Woman Lawyer of the Year; and

WHEREAS, Bernadette Hoppe was a lifelong activist; after being
diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer in 2015, she went to Albany to testify
before the State Assembly Health Committee in support of the Medical Aid
in Dying Act; and

WHEREAS, In her testimony on April 23, 2018, Bernadette Hoppe told
the committee how much she had to live for; then she said, "Please give
me, and those of us with terminal diagnoses, the ability to have hard,
emotional conversations with our doctors, our families, our friends, and
let us be the ones to make very private, personal and difficult
decisions about when and how we die"; she retired in 2018 to focus on
her health; and

WHEREAS, In addition to her wife, Bernadette Hoppe is survived by
her two brothers, Timothy and Michael Hoppe; and one sister, Anne Hoppe;
and

WHEREAS, Bernadette Hoppe, who displayed many exceptional talents
and unique qualities, was also extremely kind, considerate, accepting,
tolerant, generous, smart, clever, creative, and loving; she will be
deeply missed and truly merits the grateful tribute of this Legislative
Body; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations in a
moment of silent tribute to Bernadette Hoppe, whose unselfish concern
for the welfare of others enhanced the lives of those so fortunate to
have called her family, colleague and friend, and to express its deepest
condolences to her family; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Bernadette Hoppe.