by Edwin L. Walker, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aging
 |
| Lori Stiegel |
Lori
was a valued member of the American Bar Association Commission on Law
and Aging for over 30 years. She started her career as a legal aid
lawyer, working with older Americans. She then worked supporting legal
assistance through legal assistance development and as the Georgia Legal
Assistance Developer prior to joining the ABA Commission on Law and
Aging. Her dedication and passion for her work was always informed by
what she learned from having “boots on the ground” experience.
Lori
was one of the earliest, and certainly the most consistently
passionate, advocates for the agency and rights of all adults to make
their own decisions. She taught many of us how to fight against
financial exploitation of seniors. She led the way in pushing for
guardianship reform and was the national leader and force behind WINGS,
Working Interdisciplinary Networks of Guardianship Stakeholders. She
believed deeply that collective action and bringing together diverse
arrays of constituencies can move the needle on seemingly intractable
barriers – and she was right. She educated, nurtured and encouraged
generations of legal aid lawyers, policy makers, and thought leaders.
Many
considered Lori a dear friend and I was among them. I treasured our
conversations, whether they were about deep pressing issues of the day
or about light topics that would bring out a shared smile or laugh.
Our
memories of Lori can comfort us and propel us forward, as advocates and
as friends. I will miss her, and mourn our loss. As we share stories of
what she accomplished and how she united disparate communities to
advance the cause of autonomy and self-determination, we will continue
her work, inspired by her spirit and positive approach, and her belief
that we can come together on difficult issues. We will succeed, led by
her example, and because of that, Lori will live on.
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