Union activist touches many lives before losing her own By DEBORAH A. MILES Carol Olszewski, a PEF Executive Board member and longtime union activist, died November 19 after a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer. She was a workers’ compensation judge at the time of her death, but also had worked as a public defender, social worker and union leader. Olszewski was PEF’s political action liaison for Congressman Paul Tonko while he served in the state Assembly, and she supported Kirsten Gillibrand in 2006, who was a political newcomer at that time. For her impressive effort in this campaign, Olszewski was honored by the Labor-Religion Coalition of the Capital District with its “On the Frontlines” award. PEF Vice President Tom Comanzo said Olszewski was very active in PEF’s Political Action Committee (PAC). “Carol’s political skills and savvy grew remarkably during the years she was a member of the Region 8 PAC,” Comanzo said. Olszewski was also the political affairs director of Democracy for the Hudson-Mohawk Region (DHMR), a group devoted to improving government policies for the poor and middle class. The DHMR made Gillibrand’s campaign its own by introducing her to local union and community leaders. Olszewski organized groups to canvass for Gillibrand weekly in areas from Lake Placid to Rhinebeck. Olszewski was a member of the Troy Central Labor Council and served on the board of directors of Citizen Action. She worked to improve funding for inner-city schools and youth programs. And she was a founding member of the Peace and Freedom Party in San Francisco. Olszewski was born in Schenectady and became a world traveler, exploring much of Europe, Africa and Asia. PEF Executive Board member Wayne Bayer said, “Carol was a Knicks fan, enjoyed college basketball and hockey, especially games played by her alma mater, Cornell University. “She became a Yankees fan while devoting time to an elderly uncle in a nursing home and helped her aunt with errands and chores. She also loved New York City theater, both Broadway and off-Broadway plays.” Many have said her greatest joy in life was time spent with her daughter Regina Schwartz, who was inspired by her mother’s passion for the democratic process. Memorial donations may be made in Olszewski’s name to New Yorkers for Children at www.newyorkersforchildren.org.

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