Passages: Katherine Adair Roberts & Helen Huntoon

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Progressive organizations in San Bernardino, California are still feeling the loss left by the death of long-time activist Katherine Adair Roberts. Kathy was a member of Citizens for Global Solutions and its predecessor, the World Federalist Association, for more than 20 years, but she was also involved in many other groups.

"If there was a liberal cause, Kathy was probably involved in it," says Redlands Chapter Leader Mike Sedberry. Mike took over the helm after Kathy's sudden death, but he says it's impossible to fill her shoes. "Kathy was the dynamo of the group. She was always planning meetings, and we would gather at her house for the Partners Calls, or for letter-writing campaigns."

In September of 1989, Kathy went to Japan to meet with Federalist colleagues there, including Sumi Yukawa, the wife of physicist and peace activist Hideki Yukawa, who worked with Albert Einstein. It was one of many trips Kathy took to lobby for global issues.

"Discussing politics was one of our favorite pastimes," recalls long-time friend Connie Chavez. "Her coffee pot was going constantly and she loved to discuss politics and drink coffee. When Bobby Kennedy was running for office, I was supporting him and Kathy was supporting Eugene McCarthy, but it didn't affect our friendship. She was just a lovely, lovely person."

Kathy Roberts passed away on November of 2006, but only recently did we learn that she left Citizens for Global Solutions $100,000 in her will.

"Kathy was always a great activist, but never a large donor during her life," said Global Solutions CEO Don Kraus. "Her very, very generous legacy comes at a time when other sources of financing are down. She has made a significant difference for us at a critical time. We will remember her many contributions to our organization for a very long time."

Helen Huntoon of Kenosha, Wisconsin was one of the founding members of the World Federalist Association, according to Global Solutions member Ed Rawson. "Helen, Neil Potter and I were all there at the conference in Ashville, North Carolina in 1947," he recalled. Helen remained a tireless activist until shortly before her death in March of 2008, at the age of 90.

"She traveled all over the country promoting the organization," recalls long-time friend William Frayer. "And she always drove; even up the last year or two, she drove everywhere. She constantly went to see Ray Short in Denver, and to meetings in Pittsburgh, and to the national conferences in Washington, Chicago, and St. Louis."

"Helen was head of the United Nations Support Committee in Kenosha for as long as I can remember," says Frayer. "She seemed to know every elder statesman in the organization and was always bringing them in for speeches."

One of Frayer's more vivid memories of Helen was a demonstration they organized outside U.S. Congressman Paul Ryan's office in Racine. "We held up signs saying ‘Stop the war in Iraq' and ‘Support the U.N.' Some of the people passing by didn't agree with us, and Helen would try to convince them otherwise. She and Orlando Tweet would engage in vigorous debate right there on the sidewalk."

Milwaukee Chapter leader Debbie Metke carries a quieter memory of Helen. "What I'll always remember about Helen were her bright, intelligent eyes and her intense intellect and interest in forwarding the cause of a just world peace."

Helen also remembered Citizens for Global Solutions with a generous bequest.