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November 12, 2007
They Earned Their Rights of Passage Memorials to Virginia Hauser and Lee Benedict Two Outstanding R.E.S.C.U.E. Members as Remembered by Dot McPherson Virginia Hauser Virginia Hauser of Montrose passed away earlier this month. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harry. It was Ginny's wish that her body be donated to a medical school, and that no fuss be made. Hers was most definitely a life to be celebrated, not mourned. While her death may go unnoticed by many, her life certainly didn't. She was actively involved in her causes right up to the end - a full 60 years of activism! Within R.E.S.C.U.E. her most active involvement was in helping to get the recycling program started - when it was still R.E.S.C.U.E.'s recycling program in New Milford. The program operated in a donated building, with used equipment and a staff of volunteers, Ginny among them. In her 60s even then, she stood on the line separating the various items as they came down the conveyor belt. She continued to work for the program until the county took it over. After that there were many periods during which it appeared the county might close down the program as it was not "cost-effective". During those times Ginny, along with her husband, Harry, attended each and every commissioners' meeting to make sure that there would be vocal support for the recycling center in attendance. Ginny was also an active member of RESWAP (recycling oversight committee) until the time of her death. Most recently, Ginny single-handedly waged a war against infectious mold, herself having been infected by it as was her husband. It was just last year that she wrote a series of lengthy articles on the subject which were printed in The County Transcript. In addition to her environmental efforts, Ginny's primary focus was on women's rights and abortion rights - the right to choose. Ginny lived a very long, full and active life. She was a singular woman who has left some very big shoes to fill. Ginny was loved by many, but admired by all. She will be sorely missed. Lee Benedict We lost one of R.E.S.C.U.E.s founding members a few days ago. Lee Benedict of New Milford passed away after a long battle with cancer. Lee and his wife, Anita, joined R.E.S.C.U.E. when it was still called the Concerned Citizens of New Milford. The group was fighting the ongoing operation of the Lyncott Landfill in New Milford. It was during that battle that R.E.S.C.U.E. was formed. Both Lee and Anita were most actively involved with the R.E.S.C.U.E. recycling program that began in New Milford. Indeed, when the county took over the program, Lee was the county's first Director of Recycling and Solid Waste. It was he who developed the initial systems and procedures, while Anita served as "foreman" of the work itself and the workers, many of whom were still volunteers. Lee and Anita could also always be counted on to show up for the bi-annual litter pick-up days when the New Milford-Lenox Chapter of R.E.S.CU.E. had its four-mile stretch of "adopted" highway on Route 11 between New Milford and Kingsley. Lee will be fondly remembered by all of us who were fortunate enough to have known him and worked with him. We have lost a valuable member not only of R.E.S.C.U.E. but of society in general. He will be missed by us all. |