In Memory - Martha Greenawalt

Martha Greenawalt, who died March 17, was one of the founders of NOW in Westchester when the feminist movement was strong enough to sustain three chapters in the county. Though others subsequently chose to lessen both their active and passive support, Martha Greenawalt's name remained on our roster and her presence graced many of our activities, from solstice parties to demonstrations on behalf of women's right to safe and legal abortion.

Her steadfastness was not for lack of other things to do, for she was chair or board member of more than a dozen civic groups, including the League of Women Voters, the Greenburgh Neighborhood Health Center, and the Westchester Alliance on Juvenile and Criminal Justice. She worked on behalf of children and teens to interrupt the patterns leading them to welfare, early childbirth, or crime.

She fought for the Equal Rights Amendment, and led Westchester 2000 to include a concern for human services in their plans. A Westchester Woman of the Year in 1976, Martha Greenawalt epitomized good citizenship and compassion.

Westchester NOW joins many other groups in commemorating the life of Martha Greenawalt, a role model of social responsibility.