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In Memoriam Virginia Knauer 1915-2011
Virginia Knauer, a top consumer adviser to three Presidents (Nixon, Ford, Reagan) and one of the founders of Executive Women in Government, died October 16, 2011, at her home in Washington at the age of 96. A pioneering consumer advocate, she became the highest-ranking woman in President Richard Nixon’s administration when she was named special assistant for consumer affairs in 1969. Although her position had no statutory or enforcement authority, she successfully lobbied for reforms such as product labeling and unit pricing. Virginia was an internationally recognized leader of consumer issues, and was renowned for her ability to work effectively with both consumers and industry. Nancy Steorts, a former EWG President who mentored under Virginia and later succeeded her as head of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, called her “an incredible promoter of women from the very beginning. “ “One of her most outstanding qualities was the way she promoted her people,” said Steorts. “She was always looking for an opportunity to promote one of her leaders to another position in another facet of government. Many of us who were blessed to work closely with Virginia, always said that we were graduates of ‘Virginia Knauer College of Consumer Affairs’.” “Virginia loved EWG and always wanted to know how everything was going,” Steorts recalled. “She was a catalyst to help in troubled times, and a catalyst to congratulate in successful times. She was thrilled with the growth of EWG as so many of its members were now making a major contribution to society through the government.” Naomi Zeavin, another long-time EWG member, recalls first meeting Virginia in the late 1980s when she joined EWG. Virginia hosted groups of women in her impressive Connecticut Avenue home a few times to “help keep EWG on the high road,” Zeavin said. At EWG’s Annual Summit in 2004, Senator Elizabeth Dole introduced Virginia Knauer, who gave a great speech about she introduced Elizabeth Hanford to Bob Dole and “the rest was history.” “Virginia Knauer is truly a woman who will always be remembered for what she did for others, as well as what she did for every member of our society. We will always remember this wonderful colleague for her love of her country and for each of us, “ Steorts said. For more information about this remarkable woman leader, click on the links below:
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