Louise Slaughter remembered as trailblazer during funeral
Meaghan M. McDermott and Brian Sharp, Democrat and Chronicle
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-California) began by noting that two plane loads of Congress members and staff came to Rochester for the funeral. Pool video
Whether she was walking the halls of Congress, fighting for legislation to protect victims of domestic violence or genetic discrimination, blazing new trails for women in power or cooking up a slab of country ham before seeing her grandson off after a visit, there was truly only one Louise M. Slaughter.
In a moving funeral service on Friday for Rep. Slaughter, she was described by dignitaries and family alike as warm, funny, tenacious, committed and full of joy.
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More than 2,000 people, including dozens of congresspeople, members of the state Legislature, local officials and former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, filled the Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre on Friday to say goodbye to Rep. Slaughter, who died March 16 at the age of 88.
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“Even her opponents couldn’t help liking and respecting her,” Clinton said. “We gather here for an extraordinary outpouring of love.”
Clinton spoke of Slaughter’s sense of humor and personal warmth, and the way she used those skills to help get things done in Congress without alienating her opponents.
“It’s hard because what she represented, who she was, not only should be remembered by all who knew her and all who she served with and for, but because we need more Louise Slaughters, today more than ever.”]
We loved and admired Louise Slaughter. She was a force to be reckoned with on Capitol Hill—skilled and smart, funny and fierce. For more than 30 years, she worked to bring the people of Western New York new economic opportunities. She was also one of the most effective advocates for health care reform, a respected voice for science, and one of our most important champions for women’s rights, including her co-authorship of the Violence Against Women Act. Her leadership and her wonderful laugh will be missed, but her legacy will live on in the young people she inspired to do public service and the countless Americans whose lives are better and healthier because of her remarkable career. We are grateful to have been her friends.
Still4Hill 