Senator Weinberg at 82

(Disclaimer: While my selected demographic for Acting Our Age is women aged 85 and older, I couldn’t resist widening that circle when I received an email that said: “I’m only 82, but I have great stories to share.” I contacted Loretta Weinberg, and she was absolutely correct. Our subsequent Facetime conversation was a complete delight.)

The 1960s were a pivotal time. The status quo was examined. Difficult questions were asked. New paths were chartered.

For many, those years remain a memory not unlike a favorite tie dyed shirt: rarely remembered and a bit faded.

Loretta Weinberg views those years differently.

“I got passionate about issues ((in the 60s) that I haven’t yet gotten over.”

The era gave direction to her life.

In 1964, Loretta and her husband moved to Teaneck, New Jersey. They were part of a community of young families who shared concerns about civil rights, women’s rights, and bringing our troops home from Viet Nam.

“I’d sit with other stay-at-home moms filling out voting ID cards as we watched our kids run around in the backyard. Civic activism was our social life.”

Loretta was energized by the experience of tackling the prevailing injustices. Over 60 years later, she is still fully engaged in the process.

Today, Loretta is the Democratic majority leader of the New Jersey State Senate. She was first elected to the General Assembly in 1992 when she was in her 50s, and headed to the state Senate in 2005. In 2009, Jon Corzine, the Democratic candidate for governor, selected her as his running mate for lieutenant governor. They were defeated in the election by Chris Christie and Kim Guadangro. (Loretta notes that she liked everything about the election process – except for the losing part!)

Loretta has enjoyed many legislative victories through the years. She is perhaps proudest of the 10-year statewide fight she led to ban smoking in public spaces. She had to battle a strong restaurant and hospitality association that felt their businesses were at risk if customers were unable to light up cigarettes while enjoying a meal. While this David and Goliath battle once seemed unwinnable, the thought of entering a smoke-filled diner, as we did over a decade ago, now seems completely unfathomable.

Loretta has long championed a range of issues related to women’s health and welfare, including mandating that insurers extend coverage for hospitalization for new mothers from 12 hours to 48 hours.

When Loretta was first elected to the New Jersey legislature, she was in the minority position on two fronts. She was a Democrat in a Republican-majority Assembly, and she was the only woman in the Democratic caucus

“I was surrounded by men who couldn’t grasp the concept of displaced homemakers. We were speaking different languages.”

She owes her staying power to several strengths: her strong sense of humor; her ability to intelligently pick her battles; and her overarching optimism.

“I didn’t even get riled up when, as a 74-year-old candidate in 2009 campaign, I was referred to as the ‘feisty, Jewish grandmother.’ Some people advised me to challenge that by emphasizing my record as a competent legislative leader, but I let it go. Maybe it even won me some votes.”

This past November, at age 82, Loretta successfully ran for re-election.

“I was not ready to step away. There is still so much to do at the state level. Equal pay for women and earned sick leave are just two examples.”

Also high on her agenda is passing the baton to an upcoming crop of women activists.

“I’m at a point where I am no longer building my career. Now I have the opportunity to hand this over to a new generation.”

And it appears that there are those who are ready to take on the task.

Loretta notes with excitement that this past election cycle revealed how dramatically the political landscape has changed over the past 25 years. New Jersey had more women candidates than ever before. She speaks in awe as she describes meeting some of the women who stepped into the political arena.

“These are doctors, lawyers, and social workers with young families. I am blown away by their credentials and interests. They are each willing to run for races that they may not win. Now we need to figure out how to keep that interest alive in the tough road ahead.”

These women were no doubt similarly wowed to meet Loretta who paved the road to the state legislature.

These 20, 30 and 40-year olds are not the only women who are closely watching what Loretta has accomplished.

“I get a lot of ‘atta girl’ shoulder taps from women my own age. They tell me that they are proud of the work I’m doing. They feel that their voices are being heard.”

Loretta takes a moment to reflect on the contributions she can make from her vantage point.

“What more privilege can I have than to do what I’m doing at this stage in my life – making a difference in people’s lives.”

(photo: Ken Spooner; Spoonyvision Studio)