NANCY PERLMAN

PERLMAN--Nancy D.,

A pioneer who broke barriers to employment for women, died at home on Saturday, April 14 after a many year struggle with a rare neurological disorder. She was 74. Born in Anne Arbor Michigan amidst a large and lively extended family, she moved to Tuscon at age eight, attended Earlham College (BA 1965) and later SUNY where she received a Masters in Public Administration. She was Press Secretary for the Eugene McCarthy Presidential Campaign of 1968, after which she joined Group Health International (GHI) where she fought discrimination for clerical workers. In addition, she organized women within GHI who were being treated unprofessionally by male managers. She was fired for her efforts but reinstated after prevailing in a case involving unfair labor practices, one of the first that applied specifically to women in the workplace. She then moved to the American Federation Of State, County and Municipal Employees where she was the Director of the Department of Public Policy. In 1978 Nancy co-founded and directed for 10 years the Center for Women in Government, the first organization to address the structural barriers to women in public employment. The Center conducted first of its kind research on pay inequities for women, which resulted in wage increases and new opportunities for advancement. The Center also developed the first public sector curriculum on sexual harassment prevention and provided career development training and fellowships on Women and Public Policy, which exist to this day. In addition, the Center assisted New York City municipal uniform services (among others, Fire, Police and Sanitation) in integrating women into previously all male jobs. Nancy believed that the success of the Center was due in large measure to its non- adversarial approach. She always stressed collegiality and collaboration. She said of herself at a dinner in her honor, "My father taught me to fight injustice; my mother taught me to do it nicely." Nancy was also the President of the National Committee on Pay Equity which promoted "comparable worth," the concept that women and men should receive equal pay for jobs calling for comparable skill and responsibility. A former employee said of her, "She doesn't give orders, rather she asks suggestive questions. She stresses your contributions without the affectation of denying her own. You are not aware of being led but when you look back you see how far she has taken you. And what is more, you see that she has prepared you to go on without her. " She retired in 1986 at which time she married and began a family. She was involved in many charitable organizations, often as Chair of the Board. Nancy created charming, welcoming homes in New York and, together with her husband's family, in Belgrade Lakes, Maine. He once toasted her as follows: "If you were to ask me the one word that describes Nancy, I would choose "dignified." One who is dignified is worthy of respect, even of honor, and characterized by an absence of pretension. Her chin is always up but never her nose. Never passive aggressive, just plain aggressive, but without sharp elbows, and never in your face. Her most potent weapons are her charm and her poise. You see her dignity in her style. Never showy yet a show stopper. Her style, as good style must, flows effortless from her appearance and personality. She is empathetic, tolerant, nurturing and caring. But she is not endlessly tolerant or endlessly anything. But why should she be. Endlessness in these things is unhealthy and undignified. Nancy specializes in friendship. She loves to entertain and it shows. She is happiest and her most radiant when she is hosting family, friends, friends of friends and those just passing by. Her Seders and Chanukah and Thanksgiving dinners are talked about for years. She is masterful at making people feel comfortable and that is because she is so comfortable with herself." Nancy struggled for many years with a rare neurological disorder. As in all things, she took charge. This, however, was a battle even she could not win. She let go with the grace and the dignity that was ever hers. She is survived by her devoted husband of 31 years, Tom Klingenstein; her daughters, Anna-Rose and Sophie; her sister, Julie Perlman and many adored, and adoring, nieces and nephews. Nancy was predeceased by her brother, David and her parents, Nate and Ruth Perlman. Contributions can be made to the Thomas D. Klingenstein and Nancy D. Perlman Fund. The fund will be renamed in Nancy's honor and devoted to research in degenerative neurological disorders. There will be a memorial service on April 22 at 3:00pm at the Plaza Jewish Funeral Chapel, 630 Amsterdam Ave.