[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 122 (Tuesday, September 15, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1726-E1727]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                      THE PASSING OF BERNICE GLASS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 15, 1998

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, it is my sad duty to inform our colleagues 
of the passing of a truly remarkable resident of my 20th Congressional 
District of New York.
  Bernice Glass was only 75 years young, but she not only witnessed the 
incredible civil rights revolution which took place during her 
lifetime, she immensely contributed to it.
  Born in Virginia, the granddaughter of slaves, Bernice moved with her 
family to Nyack, NY, at the age of two. She heard from her parents and 
grandparents of the injustice and inhumanity of Jim Crow, and vowed 
that future generations would not have to endure such indignities.
  Accordingly, Bernice founded the Racial Equality Movement in Rockland 
County in the 1950's, at a time when Americans were only beginning to 
become conscious of the need for civil rights for all. She became the 
first Afro American woman to serve as a police matron, in 1960. She was 
active in the NAACP, and witnessed the historic contributions made by 
Rosa Parks, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the other giants who 
courageously fought for civil rights.
  In the 1970s, she became the first Afro American Court Officer in the 
County Clerks office, and was appointed to represent the County 
Legislature on the Rockland Community Action Council. She also became 
active with the Housing Authority of the Village of Nyack, and became 
known as that Village's ``unofficial Mayor.''
  Ms. Glass founded the O'Grady-Brown Memorial Scholarship Fund in 
1981, in honor of the two law enforcement officers slain during the 
infamous Brink's Robbery in her home community earlier that year. This 
scholarship is awarded to promising students desiring to pursue a 
career in law enforcement.

[[Page E1727]]

  Ms. Glass also served as Political Action Chairman of the NAACP, as 
Legislative Committee Chairman for Women's Issues, as a Member of the 
Democratic Party Committee, as a parishioner at the First Immanuel 
Baptist Church in Nyack.
  Despite Ms. Glass' contributions--which were truly awesome--perhaps 
Bernice will be most remembered as a living link with a bygone time: a 
time when racial justice was not a reality but a dream in the hearts of 
a few. Bernice shared this dream, and vowed early to dedicate her life 
to eradicating hatred, prejudice, and bigotry from her community and 
our nation. She did it through her sterling example, through her 
diligent work for all people, through education and persuasion, and 
most importantly of all, through love.
  We extend our condolences to her daughter, Fannetta; her sisters, 
Mary, Nancy and Helen, and her five grandchildren.
  Bernice Glass was part of a generation which witnessed the greatest 
advances in the cause of civil rights in all our nation's history. Let 
us bear in mind that these advances came about through the efforts and 
courage of Bernice Glass and people like her throughout our nation.
  Bernice Glass will long be missed.

                          ____________________