Last month, we lost one of the greatest spokespersons for the voiceless in society. Three personal vignettes come to mind.

In my first year as a delegate to the 1980 NYSUT Representative Assembly, I remember vividly Sen. Kennedy passing up an opportunity to make a critically important campaign speech in his bid to unseat President Carter as the Democratic nominee for the presidency. Instead, he chose to eulogize a good friend and leading advocate for social justice, former New York Congressman Al Lowenstein, who was killed by an assassin's bullet the day before.

A little over a year ago, then-Sen. Hillary Clinton invited New York State AFL-CIO leaders to Washington to appear at a hearing on legislation (still pending today) to provide extended coverage to 9/11 First Responders. I joined the delegation and, at a break in the hearings, Sen. Clinton invited me up to the committee table to introduce me to Sen. Kennedy.

Last year, along with thousands of others, I sat in awe as Sen. Kennedy delivered his impassioned speech to the Democratic National Convention in support of now-President Obama.

Sen. Edward Kennedy was a leader with compassion and respect for others, especially those in need. He was always willing to share a kind word and words of encouragement, even to a perfect stranger. And he was a great and eloquent orator, no matter how uncomfortable the subject might make others feel.

Ted Kennedy was often referred to as the "liberal lion." He made us proud to be labeled liberal — even though we could never measure up to his level of commitment to "liberal" causes.

Richard Iannuzzi
NYSUT President