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Bella Savitsky Abzug ('Bella!') was born on Hoe Avenue in The
Bronx, New
York
City, on the 24th of July (as in "the 4th of July") in 1920 -- the
year
that American women inherently and finally obtained "the right to vote".
This is quite ironic! In fact, it happened in world
history only a month after Bella was
born! The 'Bella' word was out: watch out! This
political
irony set the
motivational, political and spiritual stage for the multi-rights'
activist Bella! During World War II in June of 1944, Bella
married Martin M. Abzug.
In the early 1950s, they had two daughters, Eve Gayle "E.G."
and Isobel Jo "Liz" -- ironically, both are openly and proudly
Gay!! In the Spring of 1970, in addition to Bella's campaign, there was the excitement of the start of a new decade in "Fun City" and the seriousness of the anti-Viet Nam War protests. Bella vociferously, consistently and famously spoke out against that war. There was a lot of enthusiasm about the upcoming first anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion. Bella and Willson (who she often referred to as looking like an "angel"), along with a pack of other veterans of the Stonewall Rebellion -- known as the "Stonewall Vetz" -- were mutually supportive with their consensual issues of Gay rights, womens' rights, tenants' rights and civil rights. Regarding civil rights, for example, most people do not know
this but many years earlier, Bella literally risked her life over and
over and over in her bravely and continuously defending at various
judicial levels the wrongly-accused defendant in the
notious Negro-hating South case in Mississippi of Willie
McGee, a hard-working, married black man who was ludicrously charged
with rape by a white, 'married' Southern slut who had him
intercoursing her for years. When married Willie finally
refused to continue
the regularly-scheduled performances, she falsely yelled "rape!"
Despite
the prior, amazingly successful efforts of Bella -- who prolonged
Willie's life for over five years -- in 1951, Willie was unjustifiably
executed
("state-sponsored murder"). The entire horrible experience
understandably took a terrible toll on Bella! Barbra Streisand -- at this point, in 1970, already a Grammy award-winning worldwide singer, Tony award-winning Broadway star, Oscar award-winning worldwide actress and Golden Globes award-winning global entertainer -- held her own fund-raiser for 'hell-raiser' Bella during Gay Pride Month at Barbra's new townhouse off Fifth Avenue (and the Gay parade route) at 49 East 18th Street in Manhattan for the latter's ultimately winning congressional campaign. Clearly, one of the themes for Bella's historic mission was Barbra's hit song "Don't Rain On My Parade". Bella began wearing her 'trademark' hats -- a very smart
marketing tool -- because as a female attorney (rare in those years),
it helped score her double recognition, professional identity and
memorable recognition, versus all of the men, in career stature.
And was she ever right (excuse the inaccurate pun). Bella! later
elaborated, "I began wearing hats as a young lawyer because it helped
me to establish my professional identity. Before that, whenever I
was at a meeting, someone would ask me to get coffee". With her
wide-brimmed, usually colorful hats, Bella became identifiably
legendary. At home she had a huge "hat tree". Besides hats,
Bella loved music and performing. She notoriously did the famed
Marlene Dietrich in "male drag", singing "Falling in Love Again".
And, likewise attracting the arts, Gay songster Sandy Rapp, a longtime
friend of Bella, composed and recorded the song, "Hats Off to
Bella!". No doubt, besides the obvious inspirations of Bella's
trademark hats and the phrase "hats off", the title may have also been
inspired by the 1960s pop song "Hats Off To Larry". A longtime
friend of Willson Henderson's,
from when he was president of The
Victoria Apartments Tenants' Association, ("TVTA"), which he
co-founded with Florence Walder,
Ethel Klein, Cherrie Cathnott, Dottie Davis, Faye Levy and Michael D. Toney, and she was a Floor
Senator (appointed by Willson), Gay author/playwright Barbara Kahn, wrote the lyrics to
the tribute song for Bella: "Actions Are the Music of the Free".
All met Bella many times including when she was a special guest speaker of the TVATA.
*
Bella Abzug (aka Battlin' Bella), for nearly four decades, battled many political and civil rights issues -- women's, environmental, tenants, G.L.B.T. and many more. At the times, to many, they seemed "left wing" or even "radical". Now, most of Bella's proposals have been acted upon and are considered mainstream and/or popular and, in fact, many are now law. In her later years, Bella, while remaining active in politics (ask "Manhattan Boro President" Debby Glick) fighting against unworthy or inept wannabees and fighting for worthy, qualified and respectful candidates such as the winning Manhattan Borough President Virginia C. Fields. Bella's causes and issues also continued as did her participation. Bella also bravely battled a few personal medical issues.
As a result of bad complications from heart surgery, Bella
passed at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in Manhattan, New York,
on Tuesday, March 31, 1998, at nearly 78 years of life! Bella's
youngest daughter, Liz Abzug, who was in regular communication with the S.V.A., thoughtfully and personally called to
inform the S.V.A. of the sad news. The huge services for the one
and only Bella were greatly held at the Riverside Memorial Chapel
(more like a cathedral) at Columbus Avenue and West 76th Street in
Manhattan, New York, on Thursday, April 2nd at high noon!
Among those present and most of whom gave spoken tributes at
Bella's services -- in addition to Bella's two Gay daughters Eve
and Liz and their partners Joan Kaplan and Erica "Mini" Forman,
respectively -- were the following luminaries: former N.Y.C.
Mayor Ed Koch, longtime Bella! alternating political ally/foe
(ironically, he and Bella lived currently for many years in the same
grand co-op building in Manhattan off Washington Square), Congressmember Carolyn Maloney
(the only current
public
official who was requested to speak), former Congressmember
and Vice President candidate Geraldine Ferraro, Shirley
MacLaine, Jane Fonda, Phil Donohue, Marlo Thomas, Jodie Foster,
Tony Randall, Renee Taylor and Joe Bologna, feminist leaders Gloria
Steinem and Betty Friedan, N.Y.S. Comptroller Carl McCall, N.Y.S.
Attorney General Oliver Koppell, openly-Gay Attorney General candidate
(1994) Karen Burstein (to whom Bella was a mentor), N.Y.C. Public
Advocate Mark Green, N.Y.C. Council Speaker Peter Vallone, Sr., and at
least a dozen individual N.Y.C. councilmembers as well as state
senators, state assembly members, state committee members, district
leaders, et al., Broadway and film producer Marty Richards
(arrived in a chauffeur-driven Rolls Royce), singers Lesley Gore,
Royal Jones and Sandy Rapp and so very many others to S.R.O.
overflowing out into the streets capacity. And, that was
just from those invited! The crowds overflowed to the street.
The S.V.A. was represented by Stonewall veterans Willson L.
Henderson, Terri Van Dyke, Bert Coffman, Sonia Jane Attkiss, Dave West and
Ramon Bellido. The entire event was a fitting production
that would have been loved and
appreciated by Bella! All that was missing was Bella performing
as
Marlene Dietrich in top hat, tails and cane as could only be done
by the unforgettable show-woman Bella!
Much too belated a gesture for the Bella: "Come in, Ms. Abzug!" [The New York Times printed the memorable Newsday cartoon by Marlette] XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Bella!
Updates
2005 Remembering Bella via Bella Abzug Leadership Institute: www.AbzugInstitute.org/Bella-Abzug 2006 The BELLA ABZUG LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
("BALI") Special BALI Speakers:
2007 BALI National Women's and Girl's Conference Saturday, November 10th, and Sunday, November 11th, 2007Hunter College New York, New York BALI Concert on Saturday evening @ 8 p.m. * Lesley Gore -- also a fave Stonewall singer * Helen Hooke & The Honey Bees * Sandy Rapp * Pink Royale * Mobley 2010 Annual Bella & Bella Fella Awards Wednesday, April 7th @ 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. City Hall Restaurant 137 Duane Street Manhattan, N.Y. 2015 Bella 'Time' Abzug Time magazine article in which the reporter realizes that Bella Abzug paved the way for Hillary Rodham Clinton! Time.com/3747970/Hillary-Clinton-Bella-Abzug * STONEWALL Rebellion Veterans Association SVA's Founder & Executive Director: Willson L. Henderson www.StonewallVets.org/WillsonHenderson.htm SVA's General Manager: AnDre M. Christie www.StonewallVets.org/AnDreChristie.htm SVA's Stonewall Mother (in memorium): Helen A. Henderson (pictured here two different years with NYC Mayor Ed Koch) www.StonewallVets.org/EdKoch.htm STONEWALL Newzletta Reporter: Vito Abzuzzoluccione www.ZoomInfo.com/Vito-Abzuzzoluccione/312648618 Female Youth-4-SVA Co-ordinator: Gina Dora Wright www.StonewallVets.org/Parade/SW-40.htm *
* Remembering Helen A. Henderson *
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