Cecile Richards, a guide, a general, a coach, a friend.
I am heartbroken to share that Cecilie Richards passed away today at the age of 67.
Millions of people knew Cecile as the woman who led the Planned Parenthood Federation for 12 years, an era many consider a golden age in the campaign for reproductive rights and healthcare. Cecile understood better than any reproductive rights leader before or since, the intrinsic connection between healthcare and politics in America. Without Planned Parenthood under Cecile’s leadership, it’s unlikely basic birth control would be covered under the Affordable Care Act, even today.
Whether testifying in front of abortion healthcare opponents in Congress or standing with the Texas delegation at last summer’s Democratic National Convention to nominate Kamala Harris, Cecile brought her inspiring voice to the fight for human rights and dignity for a half-century.
What Americans may not know was Cecile’s deep regard for every person whose path she crossed. She cared as much about the server who delivered her lunch as the billionaire donor whose contributions fueled the organizations she led.
On her first visit to Planned Parenthood Arizona, Cecile asked me if my husband was attending an intimate VIP donor dinner that evening. I said “no,” the dinner was only for our most generous community leaders. Without hesitation, Cecile told me to bring my husband, that we’d find an extra seat at the table.
That was Cecile. Opening doors, expanding the table, and not taking no for an answer.
When visiting a local Planned Parenthood organization, Cecile’s highest priority was to meet the health center staff. They were the people who made Planned Parenthood’s promise real. She wanted to hear their stories and thank them personally.
Cecile wasn’t just hugs and kisses. Getting the work done for women and girls across the country, and the globe, was paramount. If you dropped the ball you knew it, sometimes in colorful language. But it was about the work, always.
We are deeply grateful to Cecile for her endorsement of Project 50's work since its inception. Late last year, she reached out to commend us on our election victories, reaffirming her belief in our mission and impact.
Cecile was a guide, a general, a coach, a friend. So many of us would follow Cecile into any battle. It is with the memory of Cecile’s hand on our shoulders that we will soldier forward, for as long as it takes.
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