A Tribute to Charlene Rydell

"There is a destiny that makes us brothers

No one goes his way alone

All that we give into the lives of others

Comes back into our own."

quote from an Edwin Markham poem

June 9, 2006

Dear Friends and Allies of Consumers for Affordable Health Care:

Our dear and long-time friend, Charlene Rydell, died yesterday.

Charlene was a tireless advocate for the less fortunate and universal health care. CAHC’s first encounters with Charlene occurred in 1988 when she served as House Chair of the Banking and Insurance Committee. As you may already know, almost every statute in Maine that protects insurance consumers was authored by Charlene.

She also served on the Special Select Commission on Access to Health Care, which created the Maine Health Program, a demonstration project to provide low income individuals who were otherwise ineligible for Medicaid with Medicaid coverage. It served almost 22,000 Mainers at its peak.

Charlene and Lars also assisted in developing and drafting important sections of the Dirigo Health Program. Charlene served on CAHC Foundation’s Board of Directors from 1998 - 2002.

Please find below more information about Charlene and her legacy in Maine and in the nation.

Friends said prayers for Charlene everyday in her final months from 730 - 745 PM. Please take time to say a prayer in her honor tonight. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Joe Ditre, Executive Director

Consumers for Affordable Health Care

PO Box 2490 Augusta, Maine 04330

207-622-7083w 207-485-0848c

Brunswick loses a 'national treasure'
news@TimesRecord.Com
06/09/2006
Former legislator, health care policy adviser Charlene Rydell dies at 64
BRUNSWICK — Charlene B. Rydell, who worked tirelessly as an advocate for public policies to help the elderly, very young and the poor, died Thursday at her Brunswick home. She was 64.

Rydell most recently had been a member of Congressman Tom Allen's Portland staff, as an adviser on health care and social issues. She was a member of Gov. John Baldacci's core group that developed the Dirigo Health Reform initiative in 2003, and served as a founding member of the Dirigo Health Agency Board.

But she is remembered by some as an exceptional political being.

"She had a thoughtful way about her," said Jonathan Reitman, who worked closely with Rydell on several political campaigns.

"She was willing to look at differing points of view while still advocating for her own point of view," he said. "This is very rare in politics. The state of Maine is a lesser place for her passing."

In a public statement, Rep. Allen described Rydell as his valued adviser and dear friend.

"Maine and America have lost a tireless, brilliant and caring advocate for families, children, the poor, the sick, the aged, the disenfranchised and the forgotten," he said. "More Maine families have access to quality, affordable health care because Charlene Rydell made universal health coverage her mission."

Rydell served five terms in the Maine Legislature, beginning in 1984.

Baldacci called Rydell a "national treasure" in a statement released following news of her death.

"Charlene Rydell dedicated her life to helping people less fortunate than herself," he said. "I had the pleasure of serving with her in the Maine State Legislature, where she served honorably for over a decade. The breadth of her influence in policy was as big as the compassion in her heart."

State Sen. Arthur Mayo, who had known Rydell in the 1970s when they served on the Governor's HIV Advisory Committee, said he was sorry to hear of her death.

"She will be missed by many of us involved in health care issues," he said.

Stephen McCausland, who served on the Brunswick Town Council while Rydell was in the Legislature, said that she kept councilors informed about state issues and praised her work for the town.

"She was very conscientious and attentive to the needs of Brunswick constituents when they had an issue," he said.

Former Gov. Angus King called her a passionate advocate for causes for which she believed, especially health care reform.

Rydell's husband, Lars, whom she met during a class at Brown University and married 43 years ago, said that despite all the big-picture policy issues she was involved in, his wife found her greatest pleasure in simpler things.

When she learned that a neighbor of her niece had no health coverage, Rydell contacted her personally and got her enrolled in the Dirigo health plan.

After returning from Norway in the late 1970s, where she was developing community programs for families, the accomplishment she talked about the most was setting up a youth club in a small storage room in the basement of an apartment building.

"There was nothing she liked better than working with people directly," said Lars. "That gave her a feeling that this was real."

Rydell was constantly working on ways to benefit the people around her, a focused determination that made her a focused, goal-oriented woman. But she loved being with her family, including the last 15 years with grandchildren.

One of her favorite things to do was take long walks on local beaches with her husband.

"We had a lot of good times together," he said. "We just seemed to share an outlook on life. She always radiated a kindness."

There's a quote from an Edwin Markham poem that Rydell always kept on her desk — the same quote that adorned her mother's desk — that sums the woman up perfectly, said Lars:

"There is a destiny that makes us brothers / No one goes his way alone / All that we give into the lives of others / Comes back into our own."

Times Record Obituary

06/09/2006
BRUNSWICK — Charlene B. Rydell, 64, died of cancer in her home in Brunswick on Thursday, June 8, 2006.

She was born Oct. 11, 1941, to Harry and Henrietta Becker of Swampscott, Mass. After her father died when she was 8, she moved with her sister and mother to Haverhill, Mass., where her mother joined a small family shoe-parts manufacturing business.

She graduated from Brown University in 1963. In 1967 she received a master's degree in community organization and social service administration from Case Western Reserve University's School of Applied Social Sciences. In 1995, she received an honorary doctorate from the University of New England.

On May 30, 1963, she married Lars Rydell.

From 1969 to 1972, she held several positions in the Division of Retardation in the Rhode Island state government, and was part of its pioneering effort to provide community-based housing and work opportunities for mentally retarded adults.

In 1972, she moved with her family to Oslo, Norway. She designed and implemented a service research project for young mentally retarded children and their families in the Oslo region. She served as executive director of the Task Force on the Expansion of Services at Health Stations for Mothers and Young Children in the Oslo Health Department and as assistant professor in community work at the Norwegian Diakonhjem School of Social Work in Oslo.

In 1979, she moved with her family to Brunswick, where she started Project SEARCH, a regional program for coordination of services to families with infants and preschool children with disabilities.

She was elected to the state House of Representatives in 1984 and served five terms. At that time, the AIDS epidemic had just begun in Maine. She became an early champion of programs for the prevention of HIV infection and for services to people infected with HIV.

In 1998, she joined the staff of Congressman Tom Allen's office in Portland as an adviser. She was part of Governor Baldacci's core group that developed his Dirigo Health Reform Initiative and served as a founding member of the Dirigo Health Agency Board.

Among the organizations where she served as a board member are the Merrymeeting AIDS Support Services in Brunswick, 1988-93; the Independence Association of Retarded Citizens in Brunswick, 1990-2000; the National Advisory Committee on State Initiatives in Health Care Financing Reform, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 1992-93; and the Families USA Foundation in Washington, D.C., 1995 until her death.

In 2000, she became a founding trustee on the Board of the Maine Health Access Foundation, the largest nonprofit health-directed charitable foundation in Maine. The foundation plans to establish the Charlene B. Rydell Lectureship as part of a larger program to educate Maine Legislators about key issues facing the state.

Awards she received included the Larry Connolly Award for Dedication to Justice and Equality for Maine Lesbian and Gay Citizens in 1998, the Congressman John Joseph Moakley Award for Exemplary Community Service in 2005 and the John Marvin Award in 2006.

Her greatest pleasure came from walking on the beach and the time spent with her grandchildren. Love of family and love of community were twin passions that led her to a career of service.

She is survived by her husband of 43 years of Brunswick; her son, David Rydell of Hermon; two grandchildren, Kate and Carl Rydell, of Hermon; and her sister, Judi Becker, of Dover, N.H.

She was predeceased by her daughter-in-law, Lynn Rydell.

A memorial service will be held in the Healing Garden at the Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick on June 25 at 1 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Charlene B. Rydell Fund at the Maine Community Foundation, 245 Main St., Ellsworth, ME 04605.

" ITS AMAZING HOW MUCH GOOD ONE PERSON CAN ACCOMPLISH JUST BY DOING AND CARING BEST TO ALL AND MY SYMPATHY TO THE FAMILY "

CHASE'S HOME FURNISHINGS --RANDY ROBERTS

GOVERNOR’S PRESS OFFICE

CONTACT: Crystal Canney, 287-2531
(cell) 557-5968
Dan Cashman, 287-2531
(cell) 837-4821

June 8, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Governor Baldacci Statement on the

Passing of Charlene Rydell

AUGUSTA - Governor John Baldacci today expressed his deepest sympathy to the family of Charlene Rydell upon learning of her passing. Rydell of Brunswick was a long time advocate for low-income families and for health care for Mainers. She served in the Legislature for over a decade.

Said Governor Baldacci, “Today, Maine lost a national treasure. Charlene Rydell dedicated her life to helping people less fortunate than herself. I had the pleasure of serving with her in the Maine State Legislature where she served honorably for over a decade. Charlene Chaired the Banking and Insurance Committee and served on the Appropriations Committee before becoming Congressman Tom Allen’s health policy advisor. The breadth of her influence in policy was as big as the compassion in her heart.”

Governor Baldacci noted the Rydell family will be establishing The Charlene B. Rydell Fund at the Maine Community Foundation in her memory designed to develop and promote public policy to increase access to health care and promote equal justice for Maine citizens. Governor Baldacci noted, “This is just like Charlene. Right until her dying day she was thinking about how to make life better for Maine citizens, establishing this fund with her family.” It is a wonderful legacy to a life of distinguished public service.

The Governor sent his deepest sympathies to Charlene’s husband, Lars, of Brunswick, her son, Dr. David Rydell of Bangor, and her grandchildren, Katie and David.

###

Ex-legislator, former congressional advisor, dies

June 8, 2006

BRUNSWICK, Maine --Charlene Rydell, a longtime former legislator and congressional health policy advisor, died Thursday after a long battle with cancer. She was 64.

Rydell, a Democrat, served five terms in the Maine House of Representatives, where she served on the Banking and Insurance Committee and later on the Appropriations Committee.

In 1998, she joined U.S. Rep. Tom Allen's office in Portland as an adviseor on health care and social issues. She was part of Gov. John Baldacci's core group that developed his Dirigo Health initiative in 2002 and 2003.

"Today, Maine lost a national treasure. Charlene Rydell dedicated her life to helping people less fortunate than herself," said Baldacci, who served with her in the Legislature.

Rydell's family plans to establish a fund in her name at the Maine Community Foundation to develop and promote public policy to increase access to health care and promote equal justice for Maine citizens, the governor noted.

"This is just like Charlene. Right until her dying day she was thinking about how to make life better for Maine citizens, establishing this fund with her family," he said.

Rydell is survived by her husband Lars, of Brunswick; her son, Dr. David Rydell of Bangor; her sister, Judi Becker, of Dover, N.H.; and two grandchildren.

A memorial service is planned at the Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick on Sunday.

From the website of Tom Allen

Statement on the Death of Former State Representative Charlene Rydell

“Charlene Rydell was both my valued advisor and dear friend. My staff and I mourn her passing as that of a family member."

Washington, D.C.—U.S. Representative Tom Allen today issued the statement below on the death of his policy advisor and longtime friend Charlene Becker Rydell. Mrs. Rydell, a former State Representative from Brunswick, passed away this afternoon following a long illness. Details on any services or memorials will be announced at a latter date.

“Charlene Rydell was both my valued advisor and dear friend. My staff and I mourn her passing as that of a family member.

“Maine and America have lost a tireless, brilliant and caring advocate for families, children, the poor, the sick, the aged, the disenfranchised and the forgotten.

“In Maine, Charlene will be remembered for her ten years of service in the Legislature, her contributions to landmark health care initiatives and her advocacy for education, civil rights and opportunity for all people, regardless of their background. Charlene’s early and outspoken efforts to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic were indicative of the breadth of her concern and the depth of her heart. Through her work with the National Council of State Legislatures, the Milbank Foundation and Families USA, Charlene made lasting contributions on the national and international levels.

“More Maine families have access to quality, affordable health care because Charlene Rydell made universal health coverage her mission. More Maine seniors can take the medicines their doctors prescribe because Charlene Rydell fought to make their prescription drugs affordable. And more Maine kids will have a healthy start in life because Charlene Rydell would settle for no less.

“Charlene was also a loving wife, mother, grandmother and sister. People across Maine, the nation and the world whose lives she touched share our loss. Diana and I extend our love and sympathy to Charlene’s devoted husband, Lars, their beloved son, David, their granddaughter and grandson, Kate and Carl, Charlene’s sister, Judi Becker, and the entire Rydell and Becker Families.”

contact: Mark Sullivan, (207)774-5019

Longtime Legislator Charlene Rydell Dies After Long Battle With Cancer
Web Editor: Rebecca Stefansky, Associate Producer Last Updated: 6/9/2006 12:06:01 PM

A memorial service is planned for Sunday for Charlene Rydell, a longtime former legislator and congressional health policy advisor who died Thursday after a long battle with cancer. She was 64.
Rydell, a Democrat, served five terms in the Maine House of Representatives, where she served on the Banking and Insurance Committee and later on the Appropriations Committee.

In 1998, she joined Congressman Tom Allen's office in Portland as an advisor on health care and social issues. She was part of Governor John Baldacci's core group that developed his Dirigo
Health initiative in 2002 and 2003.

Allen said that Maine and America have lost a "tireless, brilliant and caring advocate for families, children, the poor, the sick, the aged, the disenfranchised and the forgotten."