Midge Costanza --

MIDGE COSTANZA was a great speaker and would contribute her time to teach candidates how to improve their speaking. This was sent around by Jess Durfee.
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Planned Parenthood lost a dear friend about an hour ago. Longtime champion of choice and feminism, Midge Costanza, passed away peacefully after her long battle with cancer. She was with friends and family at the time.

Midge devoted her entire life to women’s rights, gay and lesbian equality, and abortion rights, and it is not a stretch to say she never – never – lost a debate.

Amongst her many achievements, Midge was the first woman to occupy a senior staff position on the White House staff (during the Carter Administration), where she pushed the President to protect abortion rights (see her memo exchange with President Carter attached). (Midge’s high profile commitment to reproductive freedom even earned her a few mentions in the popular Doonesbury cartoon back in the 1970s, a sample of which is attached.)

Midge received a phone call from a grateful President Carter in her hospital room about a week ago, wishing her well.

Midge spoke to our affiliate staff on several occasions during the past few years and made a strong impression -- inspiring, informing, and motivating us. Her last Planned Parenthood event was our Coalition for Reproductive Choice dinner celebrating the anniversary of Roe v. Wade just two months ago.

From her days on the City Council of Rochester, NY, to the White House staff, to her recent service on the staff of District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, Midge never lost sight of her one true purpose in life: to make our nation a better place, where women are full and equal partners, not just in theory – but in every real aspect of our lives from the class room to the board room to the White House.

She was an amazing friend to us all who will surely be missed.

Vince Hall
Vice President of Public Affairs & Communications
Planned Parenthood of San Diego & Riverside Counties
1075 Camino del Rio South, San Diego, CA 92108
Office phone: (619) 881-5005
Cell phone: (619) 778-6616
Fax number: (619) 683-7922
vhall@planned.org
www.planned.org

The mission of Planned Parenthood of San Diego & Riverside Counties is to ensure broad public access to reproductive healthcare though direct service, education, and advocacy.

Memo to President Carter regarding federal funding of abortions, Page 1:

Memo to President Carter regarding federal funding of abortions, Page 2:

Summary of articles submitted (Add | All):

• Carter aide Midge Costanza dies at 77 -- John Marelius, Union Tribune, 2010-03-24 Features Midge Costanza