“I want to be remembered as someone who used whatever talent she had to do her work to the very best of her ability. And to help repair tears in her society, to make things a little better through the use of whatever ability she has. To do something outside myself. Cause I’ve gotten much more satisfaction for the things that I’ve done for which I was not paid”, Ginsburg told Irin Carmon in a 2015 interview on MSNBC.
The revolutionary icon departed today at the age of 87 to metastatic pancreas cancer.
Born on March 15, 1933 in Brooklyn, New York, she was a scholar dedicated to education, graduating at the top of her class at Cornell University in 1954, and again graduating first in her class at Columbia Law in 1959.
She was appointed in 1993 by President Bill Clinton to the seat of Associate Supreme Court Justice but was long before a champion of women’s rights and equality holding progressive stances on abortion rights, immigration, same sex marriage and all things liberatory.
The icon also worked as an advocate for the American Civil Liberties Union and was the legal strategist that assured the 14th amendment’s guarantee of equal protection would apply to gender.
Ginsburg was a five time cancer survivor proving she was all things superwoman. Her small frame was nothing compared to her revolutionary opinions and willingness to fight the majority.
She is survived by her two children: Jane Carol Ginsburg (George Spera) and James Steven Ginsburg (Patrice Michaels), four grandchildren: Paul Spera (Francesca Toich), Clara Spera (Rory Boyd), Miranda Ginsburg, Abigail Ginsburg, two step-grandchildren: Harjinder Bedi, Satinder Bedi, and one greatgrandchild: Lucrezia Spera. Her husband, Martin David Ginsburg, died in 2010.
During her more than 40 years as a Judge and a Justice, she was served by 159 law clerks. While on the Court, the Justice authored My Own Words (2016), a compilation of her speeches and writings.
A private interment service will be held at Arlington National Cemetery.
Angela Dennis is Editor for Black With No Chaser, Columnist for the Knoxville News Sentinel and podcast co-host of Black in Appalachia. Her work has been published in various national outlets.
