On the Passing of Martha Regester
It is with great sadness that I write to note the passing of our friend Martha Regester on Friday. We extend our heartfelt condolences to all of Martha's family. Martha touched the lives of so many. Her contributions to our party and our community were the work of a truly giving soul that cannot and will not be forgotten.
Martha was a woman of tremendous strength and generosity. We wish her and her family peace.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be sent to Martha’s House, 919 S. Rogers St., Bloomington, Ind., 47401, in her name.
We will miss you, Martha...
-Rick, MCDP Chair
PS At our May 31 Caucus we recognized Martha's decades of service to the Monroe County Democratic Party. The text of the resolution we adopted is included below.
PPS There have been online articles about Martha's in the HT that you might wish to read as well...
* http://www.heraldtimesonline.com/stories/2007/09/15/news.qp-9050588.sto
* http://www.heraldtimesonline.com/stories/2009/10/26/obit.qp-6908891.sto
A RESOLUTION HONORING MARTHA REGESTER
The Monroe County Democratic Party, meeting in full caucus, hereby adopts this Resolution Honoring Martha Regester.
WHEREAS, Martha Regester has been an outstanding Monroe County Democrat, as is demonstrated in no small part by her initial registration here on February 1, 1950, and her vote in every Democratic Primary and every General Election since then; and,
WHEREAS, Martha pioneered the role of successful working single mother in the 1930’s, holding down two jobs while raising four children in Bedford, Indiana, then marrying Francis Regester in Bloomington where they enjoyed their family of nine; and,
WHEREAS, Martha went on to become an independent business woman herself, as owner of Granny’s Fried Chicken at Second and Walnut, which provided many a free meal for hungry volunteers at Democratic Party Headquarters, and as a successful and respected Bloomington Realtor for over 40 years; and,
WHEREAS, Martha has made countless contributions to the Democratic Party, including serving as its Chair from 1981 to 1983; and,
WHEREAS, Martha served 22 consecutive years as an elected member of the Perry Township Board; and,
WHEREAS, Martha was a driving force behind the creation of Martha’s House, a homeless shelter named for her, and served on its Board of Directors; and,
WHEREAS, Martha always did what she knew was needed, such as organizing a coat drive when she saw the Martha’s House clients had none, and creating the Robert F. Kennedy Family Shelter in the basement of the old Perry Township Office Building at 1404 S. Walnut Street, and providing quality child care in the 1950s when it was very hard to find;
THEREFORE, the Monroe County Democratic Party, meeting in full caucus, Hereby Resolves:
1. We honor Martha Regester as an outstanding Monroe County Democrat of the 20th and 21st Centuries.
2. We commend and thank her for all she has done for our local, state and national party.
3. We raise her up as a model to all those, old, young and in between, who work tirelessly for the betterment of their community.
All of which is adopted this Thirty-first Day of May, 2009.
Rick Dietz, Chair
Donna Purdom, Secretary