SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
To donate by check, phone, or other method, see our More Ways to Give page.
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
Anita Zeidler was the brilliant, hard-driven daughter of Milwaukee's beloved (and controversial) Mayor Frank Zeidler - the last of the three socialist mayors who put our city on the map. (Photo: Milwaukeeindependent)
"Sometimes you have to live someone else's life." Those were the last words spoken to me by a terrific activist the day before she suddenly collapsed and died this Labor Day while staffing a United Nations Association table at Laborfest.
Anita Zeidler was the brilliant, hard-driven daughter of Milwaukee's beloved (and controversial) Mayor Frank Zeidler - the last of the three socialist mayors who put our city on the map. The frugal and ethical Zeider brought honesty back to city government, grew the city's size, multiplied the park system, presided over a factory boom, and brought crime and poverty to a new low. Public structures and a park were named in his honor, and he was even the Socialist Party's national presidential nominee in 1976. Mayor Zeidler followed in the dreams of the first Milwaukee socialist mayor who said:
"We wanted our workers to have pure air, we wanted them to have sunshine, we wanted planned homes, we wanted them to have living wages, we wanted recreation for young and old, we wanted vocational education, we wanted a chance for every human being to be strong and live a life of happiness. And we wanted everything that was necessary to give them that--playgrounds, parks, lakes, beaches, clean creeks and rivers, swimming and wading pools, social centers, reading rooms, clean fun, music, dance, song and joy for all." (Socialist) Mayor Emil Seidel
Daughter Anita grew up with awe and pride, but also protectiveness of her father, who was initially feared by the 1950's McCarthy-era public which confused "socialist" with "communist"
She worked tirelessly for decades as a professor of Educational Psychology and ran city-wide organizations such as the United Nations Association, the Public Enterprise Institute, Milwaukee's Socialist Party, the Zeidler Institute and more. But those who knew her heard stories of overwork and strain. In fact she was endlessly driven, quite perfectionistic, and too often unwilling to ask for help.
The day before she died, she called me and we talked for over an hour. She sighed, "I've got so much to do that I can't even organize my Dad's papers." I reminded her that yes, her father was amazing and legendary, but she was exceptional in her own right and had so very much to offer the world. I said, "I hope you are taking some time to enjoy life. We can never accomplish everything. After all, when Einstein died he had a desk full of paperwork."
"Sometimes you have to live someone else's life", were her last words to me.
Less than 24 hours later the slim and energetic Anita was gone, suddenly dead of undiagnosed heart disease - too busy to get a check up. She left our city shocked and lost, in need of many to now fill her shoes.
Yes, our world needs saving in so very many ways. The amount of work can seem endless, but we need to pace and yes, enjoy ourselves for the long haul. Maybe Anita got satisfaction in her tireless efforts, but I think we would have all enjoyed seeing an often happier and refreshed friend as the struggle continued.
Dear companions in the struggle, please smell those roses yourself today - for yourself; and for Anita.
Dear Common Dreams reader, The U.S. is on a fast track to authoritarianism like nothing I've ever seen. Meanwhile, corporate news outlets are utterly capitulating to Trump, twisting their coverage to avoid drawing his ire while lining up to stuff cash in his pockets. That's why I believe that Common Dreams is doing the best and most consequential reporting that we've ever done. Our small but mighty team is a progressive reporting powerhouse, covering the news every day that the corporate media never will. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. And to ignite change for the common good. Now here's the key piece that I want all our readers to understand: None of this would be possible without your financial support. That's not just some fundraising cliche. It's the absolute and literal truth. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. Will you donate now to help power the nonprofit, independent reporting of Common Dreams? Thank you for being a vital member of our community. Together, we can keep independent journalism alive when it’s needed most. - Craig Brown, Co-founder |
"Sometimes you have to live someone else's life." Those were the last words spoken to me by a terrific activist the day before she suddenly collapsed and died this Labor Day while staffing a United Nations Association table at Laborfest.
Anita Zeidler was the brilliant, hard-driven daughter of Milwaukee's beloved (and controversial) Mayor Frank Zeidler - the last of the three socialist mayors who put our city on the map. The frugal and ethical Zeider brought honesty back to city government, grew the city's size, multiplied the park system, presided over a factory boom, and brought crime and poverty to a new low. Public structures and a park were named in his honor, and he was even the Socialist Party's national presidential nominee in 1976. Mayor Zeidler followed in the dreams of the first Milwaukee socialist mayor who said:
"We wanted our workers to have pure air, we wanted them to have sunshine, we wanted planned homes, we wanted them to have living wages, we wanted recreation for young and old, we wanted vocational education, we wanted a chance for every human being to be strong and live a life of happiness. And we wanted everything that was necessary to give them that--playgrounds, parks, lakes, beaches, clean creeks and rivers, swimming and wading pools, social centers, reading rooms, clean fun, music, dance, song and joy for all." (Socialist) Mayor Emil Seidel
Daughter Anita grew up with awe and pride, but also protectiveness of her father, who was initially feared by the 1950's McCarthy-era public which confused "socialist" with "communist"
She worked tirelessly for decades as a professor of Educational Psychology and ran city-wide organizations such as the United Nations Association, the Public Enterprise Institute, Milwaukee's Socialist Party, the Zeidler Institute and more. But those who knew her heard stories of overwork and strain. In fact she was endlessly driven, quite perfectionistic, and too often unwilling to ask for help.
The day before she died, she called me and we talked for over an hour. She sighed, "I've got so much to do that I can't even organize my Dad's papers." I reminded her that yes, her father was amazing and legendary, but she was exceptional in her own right and had so very much to offer the world. I said, "I hope you are taking some time to enjoy life. We can never accomplish everything. After all, when Einstein died he had a desk full of paperwork."
"Sometimes you have to live someone else's life", were her last words to me.
Less than 24 hours later the slim and energetic Anita was gone, suddenly dead of undiagnosed heart disease - too busy to get a check up. She left our city shocked and lost, in need of many to now fill her shoes.
Yes, our world needs saving in so very many ways. The amount of work can seem endless, but we need to pace and yes, enjoy ourselves for the long haul. Maybe Anita got satisfaction in her tireless efforts, but I think we would have all enjoyed seeing an often happier and refreshed friend as the struggle continued.
Dear companions in the struggle, please smell those roses yourself today - for yourself; and for Anita.
"Sometimes you have to live someone else's life." Those were the last words spoken to me by a terrific activist the day before she suddenly collapsed and died this Labor Day while staffing a United Nations Association table at Laborfest.
Anita Zeidler was the brilliant, hard-driven daughter of Milwaukee's beloved (and controversial) Mayor Frank Zeidler - the last of the three socialist mayors who put our city on the map. The frugal and ethical Zeider brought honesty back to city government, grew the city's size, multiplied the park system, presided over a factory boom, and brought crime and poverty to a new low. Public structures and a park were named in his honor, and he was even the Socialist Party's national presidential nominee in 1976. Mayor Zeidler followed in the dreams of the first Milwaukee socialist mayor who said:
"We wanted our workers to have pure air, we wanted them to have sunshine, we wanted planned homes, we wanted them to have living wages, we wanted recreation for young and old, we wanted vocational education, we wanted a chance for every human being to be strong and live a life of happiness. And we wanted everything that was necessary to give them that--playgrounds, parks, lakes, beaches, clean creeks and rivers, swimming and wading pools, social centers, reading rooms, clean fun, music, dance, song and joy for all." (Socialist) Mayor Emil Seidel
Daughter Anita grew up with awe and pride, but also protectiveness of her father, who was initially feared by the 1950's McCarthy-era public which confused "socialist" with "communist"
She worked tirelessly for decades as a professor of Educational Psychology and ran city-wide organizations such as the United Nations Association, the Public Enterprise Institute, Milwaukee's Socialist Party, the Zeidler Institute and more. But those who knew her heard stories of overwork and strain. In fact she was endlessly driven, quite perfectionistic, and too often unwilling to ask for help.
The day before she died, she called me and we talked for over an hour. She sighed, "I've got so much to do that I can't even organize my Dad's papers." I reminded her that yes, her father was amazing and legendary, but she was exceptional in her own right and had so very much to offer the world. I said, "I hope you are taking some time to enjoy life. We can never accomplish everything. After all, when Einstein died he had a desk full of paperwork."
"Sometimes you have to live someone else's life", were her last words to me.
Less than 24 hours later the slim and energetic Anita was gone, suddenly dead of undiagnosed heart disease - too busy to get a check up. She left our city shocked and lost, in need of many to now fill her shoes.
Yes, our world needs saving in so very many ways. The amount of work can seem endless, but we need to pace and yes, enjoy ourselves for the long haul. Maybe Anita got satisfaction in her tireless efforts, but I think we would have all enjoyed seeing an often happier and refreshed friend as the struggle continued.
Dear companions in the struggle, please smell those roses yourself today - for yourself; and for Anita.