[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 119 (Wednesday, September 4, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1512]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO ROLLIE MULLEN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. GEORGE MILLER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 4, 1996

  Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, it is with deep personal 
sadness that I rise today to share with my colleagues the passing of 
Rollie Mullen of Moraga, CA.
  Rollie was a truly remarkable woman who left an indelible mark on our 
entire community. Her career of over 15 years with Battered Women's 
Alternatives was never just a job to Rollie--it was a passion. Her 
advocacy and activism on behalf of families living with the fear of 
domestic violence won her considerable praise--Entrepreneur of the Year 
Award from Inc magazine and the Haas School of Business, United Way's 
Seaton Manning Award for Outstanding Agency Professional of the Bay 
Area, and the San Francisco Foundation's John R. May Award for creative 
leadership. But more important to Rollie was the attention it brought 
to this critical social issue. Rollie believed that we as a society 
have a responsibility not only to intervene in case of domestic 
violence, but to take steps to prevent violence in the home from ever 
occurring. She put this prevention ideology into practice at Battered 
Women's Alternatives with much success, and she effectively used this 
success to promote domestic violence prevention as part of our public 
policy agenda.
  Rollie's death is a tremendous loss that will be felt by our 
community for some time to come. Yet those of us who knew her take 
great comfort in knowing that her spirit is still with us in the health 
and security of the countless families who have been healed through her 
efforts. She was a caring, dedicated individual. She was my friend, and 
I will miss her.
  I would like to enclose the following article from the Contra Costa 
Times about Rollie Mullen.

              [From the Contra Costa Times, Aug. 10, 1996]

            Services Planned Aug. 19 For Women's Center Head

                          (By Maria Camposeco)

       Friends, famiy and admirers from across the country are 
     expected at services Aug. 19 for Rollie Mullen, a rape-crisis 
     volunteer who transformed a small shelter into the pre-
     eminent Battered Women's Alternatives of Contra Costa.
       ``We are going to celebrate her values,'' said Mullen's 
     husband of 33 years, Joe Mullen.
       The 56-year-old Mullen died Thursday of an infection 
     contracted following cancer surgery last month.
       A family marriage counselor from Moraga, Mullen joined the 
     Concord battered women's shelter as a volunteer in 1979 and 
     became executive director in 1985.
       Mullen raised the facility's profile and budget with the 
     help of private donors, including the late Dean Lesher, 
     founder and publisher of the Times newspapers.
       ``Rollie Mullen was the backbone of Battered Women's 
     Alternatives and she is the reason Dean involved himself in 
     building a transitional housing center, and why I have 
     involved myself,'' said Lesher's widow, Margaret Lesher. 
     ``Rollie Mullen cannot be replaced, but I think the best way 
     we can honor her is to go forward with her project.''
       A celebration Mass is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 19, at 
     St. Monica's Catholic Church, 1001 Camino Pablo, Moraga. A 
     reception will follow.
       In addition to her husband, Mullen is survived by her 
     children, Joseph William Mullen III of New York; Rollie 
     Killeen of Moraga; Patty Studer of Seattle; father, Arthur J. 
     McGinnis of New Jersey; four siblings; and two grandchildren.
       The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent 
     to Battered Women's Alternatives, P.O. Box 6406, Concord, CA 
     94524.

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