 |
From friends of Dr. Stewart:
Hello Felicia, up there and everywhere. I did not get back in time from Africa to tell you that you even touched the lives of many, many women in Zimbabwe recently--we used your ANSIRH manual for national training in post-abortion care. It is no surprise to any of us that you touched the lives of millions of women, and for those who know you, that is hardly an exaggeration of what you did during your lifetime and what your lifetime will continue to do for others! Thank you and bless your star.
Catherine Maternowska, PhD, MPH
UCSF
Submitted on: Wed 4/19/2006 6:51 PM |
Felicia was a mentor and a friend. In July the ANSIRH program at UCSF named a star in her honor in recognition of the guiding light she is for many of us, even after her death. I'll never forget her clear thinking and her constant push to do more. From the very beginning she encouraged all of us to recognize the morality in our work. She was unapologetic and proud to provide care to women when they needed it most. She commented in her final days that "taking care of women" was the accomplishment of which she was most proud. "Teach why as well as how" she once wrote about abortion training. This will be her legacy--the connection of the political to the personal through the provision of high quality compassionate care. Although she died at a particularly low point in the history of reproductive rights and health, she was an optimist and knew it would get better with time. "This won't last" she told me, "just keep doing what you're doing."
If you have a telescope, check out her space among the stars (RA 341.96115 and declination -43.3746111). I am sure she is already organizing her fellow companions in the sky to burn brighter. I will miss her very much.
Tracy A. Weitz, MPA, PhD(c)
Director, Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health (ANSIRH)
Bixby Center for Reproductive Health Research & Policy
University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)
Submitted on: Wed 4/19/2006 3:01 PM |
During the time I worked at ARHP I just remember thinking that Felicia Stewart was amazing--she never stopped! She was an incredible leader on our board and helped with numerous conferences and ARHP activities (in addition to everything she was doing!). I was inspired by her lectures and in conversations, she always included you and wanted to know your thoughts and opinions. She made all of us feel like we were important and part of the effort. I am now back in school pursuing a degree in Public Health. While researching for a paper and searching online, one of the first articles that popped up was by Felicia and I thought - she's everywhere! She will certainly be in our hearts and fond memories.
Cynthia (Lopez) Hatch
Former ARHP staff
Kingsport, TN
Submitted on: Wed 4/19/2006 1:43 PM |
I am so saddened by Felicia's death. She was an amazing woman, leader, and teacher. I have spent the past few days thinking about what I could possibly say about her. Simply, I am thankful for the time that I was allowed to spend in her presence.
Becca Diller Ramati
Association of Reproductive Health Professionals
Submitted on: Wed 4/19/2006 10:08 AM |
Felicia Stewart was a special person to her family, friends, and patients, she will be missed by all of us, there wasn't anything she couldn't do once she started. God Bless.
Cookie Bible, NP
Zephyr Cove, NV
Submitted on: Wed 4/19/2006 9:25 AM |
Felicia was a wonderful advocate for reproproductive rights and for health care providers. She was an exceptional leader, extremely intelligent, presented thought provoking ideas, a good listener, and a kind and considerate person. She faced challenges head on and was not afraid to travel in uncharted territories. She put foot prints in the freshly fallen snow. Now it's our job to follow in her path.
Sandy Worthington, MSN, RNC, CNM
ARHP Board of Directors
PPFA, Medical Continuing Education
Submitted on: Wed 4/19/2006 8:39 AM |
I was honored to have known Fellicia. She was gracious, smart and witty. Her life long compassion for women and reproductive rights always inspired me. She will be very missed.
Louise H. Bateman, RNC, MPH
ARHP Board Member
Houston, TX
Submitted on: Wed 4/19/2006 8:56 AM |
What makes individuals like Felicia so special is the legacy they leave behind. Felicia had the unique ability to be a colleague, a friend, a teacher and a role model all simultaneously to so many people, including me. I feel blessed to have been one of the many to have personally experienced her wit, her enthusiasm and her ability to work for women's rights in ways that will continue her legacy. I could drop an e-mail or pick up the phone and Felicia was always there with sage advice and support. Although I, like many, am personally deeply saddened by our loss of a great leader, I know that my life has been deeply enriched because of Felicia.
Mitchell Creinin, MD
ARHP Board of Directors
University of Pittsburgh
Submitted on: Tuesday 4/18/2006 10:23 PM |
I first saw Felicia when she gave a talk on the U.C. Davis campus sometime in 1991, on a new medication, RU-486, that had recently been developed in France. Like virtually everyone else who has ever heard her give a talk, I was struck by her incredible combination of intelligence, energy and wit. I approached her after her talk, saying a number of colleagues had suggested I arrange an interview with her, for research I was doing on abortion before Roe in the U.S. She immediately and enthusiastically agreed. I went to her home in Sacramento a few weeks later, where she regaled me--as only Felicia could--with fascinating, often hilarious, memories of her stint as medical director (at the ripe old age of 26) of one of the first freestanding abortion clinics in New York city. That encounter was the beginning of a very rich professional relationship and a very deep friendship that lasted till her death. She taught me an enormous amount about the medical aspects of reproductive health and I used to joke to her that she was a sociologist trapped in a doctor's body. For the last several years until illness forced her retirement, I had the immense good fortune to work in an office adjoining to hers at the Center for Reproductive Health Research and Policy at UCSF. The research group she presided over-Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health (ANSIRH)-in our wing at Mt. Zion hospital was quintessential Felicia--a beautiful environment, good food, a lot of laughter, ideas flying fast and furiously, interesting people in our field dropping by, and people working hard and well, because of our shared sense of mission. And because Felicia was such an effective and beloved leader.
In the months leading up to her death, I was fortunate enough to be able to visit her on a fairly regular basis. She was able to be at home, where she was taken care of in an extraordinary manner by her children, Matt and Kathryn. We talked about the many varied things she had done in her career, including, of course, her work on behalf of emergency contraception. I was thus struck, though not surprised, when she said to me, "you know, I haven't talked about it much, because of confidentiality issues, but really the greatest satisfaction I got in my work life was taking care of patients. That was a privilege."
Carole Joffe, PhD
University of California, Davis
Submitted on: Tue 4/18/2006 10:27 PM |
|
|
|
