As one of the first DeSilver Society members, it is fitting that Dorothy is also our inaugural Lives of Liberty profile subject. During her lifetime, Dorothy also distinguished herself professionally when she served as the first New York State division woman president of the State, County and Municipal Workers of America (SCMWA) and later served as the first female local president at DC37.

Dorothy took a principled stand on the absolute necessity of guardianship over our basic freedoms that never wavered. She was 92 when she died in 2006.

Of Dorothy’s many roles, one which most often exemplified her was fighter. She fought for just causes and fought against obvious and oppressive wrongs as they presented themselves. As a result, she leaves a proud legacy of advocacy and activism. Her spirit is bold, impressive and inspiring.

Dorothy’s mother, Sophie, was an early ACLU donor and supporter. Her father, Sander, was among the charter members of the New York chapter of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union. She likely developed her passion and concern about matters of social justice from their example.

Dorothy first became involved with the ACLU in 1960 as her son Bob (Robert Jacobson) was about to graduate from high school in New York City. At that time, the New York City Board of Education required all students to sign a loyalty oath in order to graduate. Her son refused and Dorothy contacted the ACLU. In a hearing before the board, ACLU attorney Helen Buttenweiser argued successfully against the practice, ending the unconstitutional policy at high schools throughout the city.

With her son’s civil liberties victory as a catalyst, Dorothy’s planned gift to the ACLU some 21 years later, was, as she stipulated, earmarked for the ACLU’s church-state taskforce. Under the provisions of her charitable gift, the ACLU received a generous annual contribution each year over a ten-year period.

Dorothy‘s concern for civil rights, workers’ rights and social justice informed her philanthropic giving. In addition to the ACLU, Hunter College and Amnesty International were institutions that Dorothy deemed worthy of support. She endowed a chair in Latin American Studies at Hunter (her alma mater) and her gift leadership led to the establishment of other academic chairs at the college.

When Dorothy retired at age 76, as president of a successful vitamin manufacturing company, she immersed herself in volunteer leadership activities which allowed her to create a new level of activism. Dorothy joined the Joint Public Affairs Committee for Older Adults, a regional, multi-cultural, grassroots advocacy group (a division of the Jewish Association for Services for the Aged). In 1993, at age 80, Dorothy founded the Institute for Senior Action as a vehicle for recent retirees and others to become more involved in social action as volunteers.

In her last years, she also expressed interest in the ACLU’s ongoing civic engagement of youth and young adults. Her concern was that they were armed with information and the ability to carry on the fight for civil liberties far into the 21st century.

Former union organizer, senior activist and social justice supporter, philanthropist and ACLU member, entrepreneur and community leader, Dorothy Epstein truly lived a life of liberty.

NOTE: Dorothy’s autobiography, A Song of Social Significance, Memoirs of an Activist (edited by Henry Foner) was published by Ben Yehuda Press in 2007. Visit: www.BenYehudapress.com