[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 85 (Friday, May 27, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E815]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 REMEMBERING THE LIFE OF SUSAN TOLCHIN

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 27, 2016

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember the life of Susan 
J. Tolchin, someone who I had the privilege to work with and who I had 
long admired for her curiosity, her judgment, and her concern for 
others.
  An ardent feminist, who along with her husband Marty, brought 
attention to the plight of middle-class working women, a class of 
Americans often overlooked and rarely chronicled, Susan and Marty 
authored several books together, all of which highlighted the 
mechanisms that the Tolchin's considered ``occupational hazards of 
democracy.''
  As an author and a professor, Susan focused on and scrutinized 
political patronage and its many pitfalls, and was one of the first 
political scientists to identify growing voter disenchantment and 
disillusion with their government. She wisely concluded that these 
concerns were deeply rooted in the women's and worker's rights issues, 
largely discounted and ignored by policymakers, but which she sought to 
highlight through her teaching and writings.
  In her seminal and sage work on political patronage, Susan redefined 
political patronage as that which ``includes the vast range of favors 
awarded by constantly expanding governments.'' Likewise, her work on 
evolving voter anger was cutting-edge analysis, far ahead of her peers.
  For those who had the fortune to know her, Susan was an engaging and 
charming conversationalist, with a natural curiosity and ability to 
learn from others. She was always learning and seeking new ideas, and 
applying this knowledge to her scholarship in the classroom and in her 
writings in political journals, magazines and books.
  Susan's legacy of scholarship has provided those of us who also 
champion women's and laborers' rights with a critical knowledge base. 
Her work was inspirational, and insightful, and helped me and many 
others to understand trends and the undercurrents that caused them 
which others might have missed.
  Susan was not only dedicated to struggles of the working, middle-
class women, but also to her family, whom she loved dearly. She and her 
husband Martin worked closely together for many decades, authoring many 
books. She adored her daughter Karen, also a professor, and their 
charming grandson, Charlie. They were quite a team, Susan and Marty, 
always joyful and supportive of each other.
  Those who were fortunate to have known and loved Susan, or who had 
followed her work, will miss her terribly. Her passion was an 
inspiration for many, and one can only hope that her passing will not 
be the last chapter of her story, but that she will continue to inspire 
countless others. She certainly inspired me.

                          ____________________