NEW YORK , April 12, 2008 — Louise Levine Rosenthal, of Massapequa, N.Y., was presented with a Retiree of the Year Award at the New York State United Teachers' 36 th Representative Assembly in New York City today.
Levine Rosenthal is an active retiree, currently co-president of her retiree council (RC 19) and a Representative Assembly delegate. She previously served as president of the Retired Teachers of Mineola. She travels to Albany regularly to lobby for union issues near to her heart. Levine Rosenthal is also a trainer for critical retiree issues such as Medicare and Social Security.
This retiree has been active within the union since her earliest days as a teacher. "Unionism is in my blood," said Levine Rosenthal. "I'll never forget one year a salesman at the company my father worked for was fired right before Christmas. My father organized the men and started a union."
"Louise's energy and continued commitment to NYSUT is vital to this organization," said NYSUT President Richard C. Iannuzzi. "She is an inspiration to retirees and sets the gold standard for our active members for lifelong union activism."
"Louise jokes that, with all her NYSUT activities, her children have not yet noticed she has retired from teaching," said NYUST Vice President Kathleen Donahue. "We are so fortunate to have Louise devote her time and expertise as an advocate and trainer for NYSUT retirees and the issues that matter to them most."
NYSUT represents more than 585,000 teachers, school-related professionals, academic and professional faculty in higher education professionals in education and health care and retirees. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association and the AFL-CIO.
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