[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 142 (Tuesday, November 1, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2234]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                IN HONOR AND REMEMBRANCE OF ANN CHUDNER

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 1, 2005

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and remembrance of 
Ann Chudner, devoted wife, mother, champion of social and civil rights, 
and friend and mentor to countless.
  Mrs. Chudner was born and raised in New York City where she became 
actively involved in social causes when she was a young employee at 
Macy's Department Store. While there, Mrs. Chudner joined the union 
movement and took part in the first major strike against the store. Her 
husband, Irving Chudner, was also involved in the union movement and 
became a union leader with Local 1250 at Ford's Brook Park plant. She 
moved to Cleveland with her husband, where their focus on their son, 
Rick, and their dedication to causes of social justice never 
diminished.
  Mr. and Mrs. Chudner and their son, Rick, who has followed the 
activism path of his parents, direct their spirit of activism 
throughout the City of Cleveland and the West Park community. Mrs. 
Chudner became deeply involved in social issues ranging from fighting 
against corporate tax abatement to working toward educational and 
recreational opportunities for youth, to supporting numerous 
candidacies. Mr. and Mrs. Chudner were immersed in the mayoral 
candidacy of Carl Stokes, helping him to win the election as the first 
African American mayor of a major American city. She was instrumental 
in the success of the grassroots campaign to save Cleveland's municipal 
power company from takeover by the local monopoly private electric 
company when I was mayor of Cleveland. She was instrumental in working 
with Cleveland school officials to implement the Compu-Tech program, 
which introduced students to computers at a young age. Mrs. Chudner 
also rallied against the closings of West Tech and John Adams high 
schools, and was a steadfast leader in the West Park Community Council, 
a social action group whose membership climbed to 300 during her 
tenure.
  Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor and remembrance 
of Mrs. Ann Chudner, whose fearless advocacy on behalf of the people of 
her community was framed by courage, heart and unwavering conviction in 
the philosophy that a unified group can affect real change. I offer my 
deepest condolences to her husband, Irving; to her son, Rick; and to 
her extended family and many friends. Her journey through life has made 
our world a better place, and her legacy will forever live on in the 
West Park community and miles beyond.

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